The best traffic-free bike rides around Goch

The stepped gable of the rectory stands out a bit in the village.

Former railway line to Kleve. Only cyclists, e-scooters and pedestrians allowed, away from the federal highway B57. Old relics of the railway everywhere.

LVR Archaeological Park Xanten On the site of the former Roman city of Colonia Ulpia Traiana, Germany's largest open-air archaeological museum invites visitors on an inspiring journey into history. For around four hundred years, Xanten was one of the most important Roman settlements in Germania. Some ten thousand men, women, and children lived in the imposing city, which Emperor Trajan designated Colonia Ulpia Traiana around 100 AD. The fact that its site has remained largely uninhabited since the Middle Ages is a true stroke of luck for archaeology. This has allowed the remains of the Roman city to be protected, researched, and presented in the LVR Archaeological Park Xanten since 1977. In the park's expansive green spaces, faithful reconstructions such as the harbor temple and the amphitheater, the city wall, houses, and bathhouses convey a vivid impression of everyday Roman life in Germania. The award-winning LVR Roman Museum, guided tours of the excavations, craft demonstrations, and activity programs offer a wealth of opportunities to experience Roman times with all your senses. At the Archaeological Park's shipyard, you can watch as faithful replicas of Roman ships are built right before your eyes, from the very first planks. Larger events like the Roman festival "Swords, Bread, and Games" bring the park to life in a special way. In addition, the Roman Weekends from May to September offer a diverse program of activities to watch and participate in. At the Roman Games House, children of all ages can discover the most popular board and skill games of the Romans. Younger visitors can also burn off energy on the large adventure playground, a giant bouncy castle, and the large water playground. And for a quick bite, the park's Roman restaurant offers culinary delights prepared according to authentic ancient recipes. Since 2016, the museum café in the KaffeeMühle, a lovingly restored 18th-century mill, has expanded the park's culinary offerings. Source: https://apx.lvr.de/de/standorte/standorte.html

The Roman city near present-day Xanten was one of the most important metropolises in Rome's Germanic provinces during antiquity. At its peak, the Colonia Ulpia Traiana was bustling with life, with more than ten thousand men, women, and children filling its streets. Arrival of the Legions Long before the founding of the Colonia, during the major Germanic campaigns under Emperor Augustus in 13/12 BC, Roman legions established their first camp on the so-called Fürstenberg hill south of the present-day city of Xanten. From then on, the Xanten area was always home to at least one legion, and in the 1st century AD, it was one of the largest and most important bases in the entire empire. A port and a settlement, where civilians and army veterans settled, developed about two kilometers from the legionary camp. The Colonia Ulpia Traiana Over the following generations, the early civilian settlement grew to a considerable size. Around 100 AD, Emperor Trajan bestowed upon it his name and the rights of a Colonia. This placed Colonia Ulpia Traiana among the 150 most important cities in the entire Roman Empire. The colony covered an area of 73 hectares and was divided by a grid of streets. Its appearance was characterized by large public buildings such as the impressive city wall, a large forum, temples, baths, and the amphitheater. Source: https://apx.lvr.de/de/standorte/standorte.html

Beautiful there. Beautiful in the harbor.

A great route from Goch to Xanten, especially on the renovated section.

With drinking water and sanitary facilities.

On the border: a work of art and a beautiful carved bench. A lovely spot for a break.