Route North Rhine-Westphalia
The section of the R1 passing through North Rhine-Westphalia locally referred to as the "Westphalia Bikeway R1” has a total length of 275 kilometres.
A particular feature along this part of the route is the impressive signposting, including indications of possible detours to nearby places of special interest.
The good connections to public transport increase individual mobility in many places.
In general, North Rhine-Westphalia is a very cyclist-friendly part of Germany, and it has the highest density of Bed & Bike offers. Münster is rightly known as the “Bicycle town”.
Here, cyclists always have priority and drivers are always considerate of road users on two wheels.
Beginning on the German side of the border with the Netherlands, at Zwillbrock and Vreden you cycle at first through the flat Münsterland past idyllic moorland, heath landscapes and gently undulating hills. This region is very well-received by cyclists not least because of the unique paved routes through the fields in the Münsterland — the “Pättkes”.
These have been developed for agricultural use and are mostly free of cars.
Past centuries-old farm complexes, historical town centres and about a hundred famous moated castles and chateaux, the cyclist passes through the section of the Westphalia cycle route termed the “Cycle Park Münsterland” by the local tourist authorities.
The park-like landscape leads gradually via the periphery of the Teutoburg Wood and the foothills of the Eggegebirges to East Westphalia/Lippe.
The only gentle inclines encountered are in the Weser hills, through which the R1 then passes on its way to the state border near Höxter.
The excellently prepared cycle way leads past the famous Romanic and baroque monastery of Corvey, built here in 822.
Visitors also have the opportunity to visit the grave of the poet Hoffman von Fallersleben (who wrote the text of the German national anthem). The river Weser forms the state border between North Rhine/Westphalia and Lower Saxony.
Very interesting information is available at:
