Nijmegen-Valkhof area | Valkhofpark and Herwen-De Bijland

Waypoint introductions and full write-ups

1. 1. Nijmegen-Valkhof area | Valkhofpark

   Nijmegen calls itself the oldest city in the Netherlands, and it has a good case. The Romans founded a military camp on the hill here in the last years BC, and a town followed, which was given full town rights around AD 100. Many centuries later, on the same hill by the Waal, Charlemagne built a palace, the Valkhof, and Frederick Barbarossa rebuilt it in the twelfth century as a magnificent imperial residence. Little survives except for a chapel and a ruined apse, but the Valkhofpark, with its terraced slopes and view across the river, still marks the site of one of the most important places in the medieval empire.

   Read the complete Nijmegen-Valkhof area | Valkhofpark write-up.

   Recorded stop-planning note

   May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.

   Planning note

   Nijmegen-Valkhof area | Valkhofpark is where the day begins. Next is Arnhem-Meinerswijk.

2. 2. Arnhem-Meinerswijk

   The Rhine has always been a frontier here. In Roman times, the Lower Rhine marked the northern edge of the empire, and the Romans built a chain of forts, watchtowers and roads along its banks to guard it. At Meinerswijk, on the southern bank of the river opposite Arnhem, the remains of one of those forts lie buried in the floodplain. It is part of the Frontiers of the Roman Empire, Lower German Limes, listed by UNESCO in 2021. There is little to see on the surface, but the floodplain itself, a wide expanse of meadows, ponds and willows, is a pleasant place to walk, and markers explain the history.

   Read the complete Arnhem-Meinerswijk write-up.

   Recorded stop-planning note

   May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.

   Planning note

   Arnhem-Meinerswijk comes up about 17 km into the recorded legs. Next is Herwen-De Bijland.

3. 3. Herwen-De Bijland

   At Lobith, a few kilometres east of here, the Rhine enters the Netherlands from Germany, and you can feel the river changing its mind about what it is. Within a short distance it splits into branches, the Waal, the Nederrijn and the IJssel, and spreads across a wide floodplain, the Bijland, of meadows, willow thickets and old river arms. In Roman times this was the frontier, and a fort at Herwen, called Carvium, guarded the river crossing with a garrison and a small settlement. The Roman road ran along the dike, and ships tied up at its harbour.

   Read the complete Herwen-De Bijland write-up.

   Recorded stop-planning note

   May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.

   Planning note

   about 45 km into the recorded legs you reach Herwen-De Bijland. Next is back through Arnhem-Meinerswijk.

4. 4. back through Arnhem-Meinerswijk

   Return visit. Read the place description above.

   Read the complete Arnhem-Meinerswijk write-up.

   Recorded stop-planning note

   May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.

   Planning note

   back through Arnhem-Meinerswijk, late in the day. Next is Nijmegen-Valkhof area | Valkhofpark.

5. 5. Nijmegen-Valkhof area | Valkhofpark

   Return visit. Read the place description above.

   Read the complete Nijmegen-Valkhof area | Valkhofpark write-up.

   Recorded stop-planning note

   May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.

   Planning note

   Back at Nijmegen-Valkhof area | Valkhofpark. That is the ride.