Whoever thinks of Luxembourg thinks of..... Of what actually? Cheap petrol at the 'Capellen' petrol station or the country you always quickly pass through when driving to Switzerland or Italy? Still, it is worth lingering there a bit longer, especially if you have a bike on the back of the car.
Destination unknown
It is early May as I am steering the motorhome towards Italy. The final destination is wide open, but the weather does not look too good in the Dolomites. After a brief consultation with Google, I enter 'Berdorf'. A small village in the southeast of Luxembourg. After just under four hours of steering, I park the motorhome at 'Bellevue 2000' campsite and take my bike off the rack for an exploratory tour of the area. If there were any doubts at all whether Luxembourg is a cycling country though, these doubts are dispelled even within the first few metres. This is mainly to do with road surface combined with the surroundings. An undulating landscape stretches as far as I can see in which the roads wind their way. Although this destination was not thought of beforehand, I am immediately happy with the choice of Luxembourg.
The route
Before my cleats click into the pedals, I did set a route in the Garmin so that I don't have to search along the way and can fully enjoy the scenery. From the start, the road is either slightly uphill or downhill, for flat kilometres you really have to stay home. As mentioned earlier, the road is really fantastic, you can leave that to the Luxembourgers, as is the public transport. Nice electric buses, regular departure times and completely free.
Berdorf lies on a large plateau at just over 300 metres above sea level. This route stays mostly on the plateau at first but brings variety. So one moment I ride between meadows and a kilometre later in the forest. After 20 kilometres there is a serious descent where I can really get into the stirrups. The road winds through the forest from the plateau down towards the Sûre or Sauer as the Germans say. This river is also the border between Luxembourg and Germany.
Once at the bottom, I turn left towards Echternach and follow the meandering river. The road rises slightly, but in such a way that I don't have to hurt my legs. This changes as I ride towards the finale of this route. The best (if you like climbing) is in the tail end of this route. The 'Route de Berdorf' is a tourist route from Echternach to Berdorf where there is much beauty to be found. For instance, special rock formations and viewpoints have been created for hikers, but much more importantly. Between these rock formations is a great climb to ride up (and down, of course) by bike. The climb is 4.1 kilometres long with an average gradient of 5%. There is a small section of 11% in it, but my Garmin mostly sticks between 6 and 7%.
Encouraged by the many hikers hiking the 'Mullerthal Trail', I drive up and enjoy not only the climbing, but also the extraordinary forest. Not for nothing is this area also called Little Switzerland. When I think I am at the top, the climb continues for a long time towards Berdorf, this last kilometre may not be as steep, but it feels quite heavy due to the duration of the effort and the wind in the open field. Fortunately, the segment ends on a cosy terrace in the centre of Berdorf where I can reminisce about a short but delightful route in Luxembourg.
Tips:
Echternach:
A cosy town with plenty of restaurants and a touch of culture for lovers. A nice place to unwind after a ride. From Echternach you can take the bus (free of charge) to Berdorf if you didn't bring your bike.
Mullerthal:
Of course we come to cycle, but if you want to stretch your legs for a while, you can walk part of the Mullerthal trail. This 37-kilometre trail runs throughout the region and takes you past all the beautiful sights of the area, so if you have time to spare, take off cycling shoes and put on walking shoes.
Camping Bellevue 2000
I was at Camping Bellevue 2000. It is not a campsite geared towards cyclists, but provides all conveniences and more importantly, it is a great starting point for the described cycle route.
More tips on Luxembourg? Then check out these articles we wrote about this cycling gem
