5 bike rides to make the most of summer
As well as being the starting point for the daily commute to work, CFL railway stations and stops also serve as landmarks for cycling enthusiasts and other occasional cyclists. With the ‘Bike & Rail’ initiative, the CFL are offering 20 station-to-station cycle routes in Luxembourg and the Greater Region. Here is a selection of five tours to get the summer season off to a good start.
Troisvierges – Bastogne – Wiltz
Taking in the Luxembourg and Belgian Ardennes, the Tour C follows a number of cycle paths, some of which run along former railway lines. It’s a tour that also pays tribute to the history of the region, with a visit to the Second World War memorial at the Mardasson in Bastogne on the way through the Belgian town.
In a nutshell:
- Distance: 54 km
- Estimated time: 2h40
- Difference in altitude: +328 m -428 m
For full details of the Tour C, click here: CFL | CFL Tour C Troisvierges – Bastogne – Wiltz
Luxembourg – Mersch – Ettelbruck
The school holidays, and especially the summer months, are a great time to enjoy outdoor activities with the whole family. With this fairly flat route, cyclists of all ages can enjoy the varied countryside from the centre to the north of the country. And as the tour follows the railway line northwards, there are plenty of opportunities to shorten the journey by stopping at an intermediate station.
In a nutshell:
- Distance: 34 km
- Estimated time: 1h40
- Difference in altitude: +125 m -169 m
The full Tour I information sheet can be found here: CFL Tour I Luxembourg – Mersch – Ettelbruck
Differdange – Belval-Université – Esch/Alzette – Rumelange – Bettembourg
Sounds like the south! For a long time, the region vibrated to the rhythm of the steel industry, but it still retains many traces of its rich past. From natural landscapes to historical aspects, this tour offers a glimpse of all the diversity of the south of the country, which is best admired from the panoramic viewpoint accessible from Belvaux.
In a nutshell:
- Distance: 34 km
- Estimated time: 1h45
- Difference in altitude: +355 m -379 m
For full details of the Tour M, click here: CFL | CFL Tour M Differdange – Belval-Université – Esch/Alzette – Rumelange – Bettembourg
Luxembourg – Metz – Nancy
This tour is one of the longest distances suggested by in the ‘Bike & Rail’ book and is planned over two days to take in the charm of the neighbouring Lorraine region, starting along the cross-border Moselle river. The first stage of the tour ends in Metz after passing through Thionville. From one departmental capital to another, the second day ends in Nancy and its magnificent Place Stanislas. After an overnight stay in the capital of the Dukes of Lorraine, you can return to Luxembourg by train.
How to travel abroad by bike… and by train?
In a nutshell:
- Distance: 156 km
- Estimated time: minimum 7h45 / 2 stages
- Difference in altitude: +470 m
The full Tour Q information sheet can be found here : CFL Tour Q Luxembourg – Metz – Nancy(F)
Luxembourg – Remich – Wasserbillig
Leaving the capital via the PC1 (Central Cycle Route), you quickly enter the natural setting of the Alzette valley before following the VeloRoute SaarLorLux cycle route and returning to the ‘Jangeli Cycle Route’ (PC7). This follows the old ‘Jangeli’ narrow-gauge railway line as far as Remich. You can then use the PC3 (Piste cyclable des Trois Rivières) to reach your destination, after having had the pleasure of cycling past typical Moselle villages and admiring the vineyards on the hillsides.
To sum up:
- Distance: 66 km
- Estimated time: 3h20
- Difference in altitude: +360 m -502 m
For full details of the Tour L, click here: CFL Tour L Luxembourg – Remich – Wasserbillig
The ‘Bike & Rail’ book, published by CFL in collaboration with Romdeluxe Productions, is available for 43 euros at CFL Luxembourg and Belval-Université sales centres, in many bookshops and newsagents (Librairies Ernster, K KIOSK, Cactus, etc.) and online.