Panorama-Radweg Niederbergbahn – Auf Bahntrassen durchs Bergische Land

In the middle of the hilly landscape of the "neanderland" the panorama cycle path Niederbergbahn runs on a former railway line that was built in the 1920s with a slight incline in order to be able to use it for passenger and goods transport.

The approximately 40 km long bike path leads from Essen-Kettwig via Heiligenhaus, Velbert and Wülfrath to Haan through the "neanderland", the district of Mettmann. In places, the route runs over old, brick arch viaducts of immense height. Today, impressive evidence of engineering skills from the last 100 years can be explored and impressive views of the landscape can be enjoyed.

In Heiligenhaus you actually drive over an old freight wagon that bridges the cut in a railway embankment - the first wagon bridge in Germany. The Mariendom in Velbert-Neviges is also worth a detour - a church like a concrete rock, in the imposing interior of which the glass windows glow with extraordinary color.

Also on the route: an old limestone quarry with a crystal-clear lake, rugged stone walls and a museum tunnel nearby - the time tunnel in Wülfrath. Here 400 million years of earth's history are explained in an impressive way. A small branch to the historic half-timbered town of Haan-Gruiten is also worthwhile.

Our tip: The famous Neanderthal Museum is only eight kilometers away from the end of the railway line and a visit is simply a must. So that you can easily find the museum, we have included it in the tour.