Schaloen Castle – Valkenburg on the Geul loop from Valkenburg

Bike touring routes & trails

Netherlands

Limburg

Valkenburg Aan De Geul

Schaloen Castle – Valkenburg on the Geul loop from Valkenburg

Moderate

4.7

(181)

1,104

riders

Schaloen Castle – Valkenburg on the Geul loop from Valkenburg

02:48

43.8km

450m

Cycling

Moderate bike ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels. The starting point of the route is accessible with public transport.

Last updated: August 12, 2026

Tips

Your route passes through a protected area

Please check local regulations for:

Geuldal

Waypoints

Start point

Train Station

Get Directions

1.37 km

Historic Centre of Valkenburg

Highlight • Historical Site

A beautiful historic old town with sandstone houses, situated along the Geul River. Above the town, perched on a rock, are the ruins of Valkenburg Castle. The pedestrian zone in the historic center offers numerous restaurants, cafés, and bars, many with lovely outdoor seating.

In winter, charming Christmas markets are held in two spacious caves and throughout the town center.

Absolutely worth seeing!

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3.21 km

Schaloen Castle

Highlight • Castle

It is one of the most fairytale-like castles in the Netherlands. The moated Schaloen Castle, as it looks now, looks something like a French hunting lodge.
The very first building from the twelfth century burned down completely in the sixteenth century. The outbuildings, stables and barns date from the eighteenth century.
After the French occupation, the castle was given its current appearance with the western tower and staircase tower during a restoration by architect Pierre Cuypers in 1894.

Tip! If you look into the moat from the large stone bridge, you will definitely see a lot of carp swimming…

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11.6 km

Gulpen Marketsquare

Highlight • Cafe

Gulpen Market is right on the Gulp. The flair at the creek was beautifully designed by the surrounding gastronomy and the creek design.

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16.7 km

Mechelen Village Center

Highlight • Settlement

Mechelen (50°48′N 5°56′E) (Limburgish: Mechele)) is a town in the Dutch province of Limburg. It is a part of the municipality of Gulpen-Wittem, and lies about 13 km south of Heerlen.

In 2001, Mechelen had 1210 inhabitants. The built-up area of the town was 0.24 km², and contained 481 residences.

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20.2 km

De Smidse Hotel, Inn & Apartments

Highlight • Restaurant

Quaint hotel with a beautiful view from the terrace.

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40.4 km

Sibberhuuske

Highlight • Historical Site

Sibberhuuske was originally a castle farm, a fortified house with thick walls, embrasures, a moat with a drawbridge and two towers. Even now in the 21st century - now that the local castle lord no longer has to fear wandering gangs and the enormous difference between farmers, dignitaries and nobility in the area has disappeared - the Sibberhuuske castle courtyard has retained much of its original character.
This castle courtyard was one of the first inhabited buildings on the Margraten plateau. It is known to be even older due to a mention from the end of the fourteenth century, the cellars from the sixteenth century and the fact that the Spanish Duke Alva confiscated it in 1570. The castle courtyard is largely built with natural materials such as marble and brick. Despite a serious fire in 1935, the northwest wing, entrance gate and fountain are still original.

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42.8 km

Valkenburg on the Geul

Highlight • Settlement

Valkenburg has been one of the Netherlands' most important holiday destinations since around 1840, and tourism is the municipality's main source of income. This has much to do with the medieval town's picturesque location, but the extensive labyrinths of underground quarries also played an important role from the very beginning. However, the original idea of using the caves for air cures never came to fruition.

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43.0 km

Historic Center of Valkenburg

Highlight • Historical Site

Valkenburg is a well-known city in the province of Limburg. That was once a fortified town. The special ruin of Valkenburg Castle towers high above the hill. It is the only height castle in the Netherlands. With several caves under the castle that you can discover

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43.8 km

End point

Train Station

Way Types & Surfaces

Way Types