The Ruhr Valley Cycle Path - RuhrtalRadweg

The RVCP was officially opened in 2006 and is one of the primary German riverside cycle paths. It passes through North Rhine-Westphalia, runs along the Ruhr River from its source in Winterberg to the confluence with the Rhine River in Duisburg. The 230-kilometre route (elevation profile: approx. 650m - source 666m, confluence 17m above sea level) is characterized by a relevant natural and historical heritage: forests, heathland, mountains, many traces of the industrial era, which are symbolic of the development and history of the region. Along the way, there are interesting sites: the medieval town centre in Arnsberg, the Mutten Valley, industrial heritage sites like the Nightingale mine in Witten, Lake Baldeney, the Villa Hügel in Essen and the redeveloped Duisburg Inner Harbour. Cycle-tourism offers can also count on canoe, ferry and railbus excursions. The RVCP is a mainly river-accompanying cycle path, largely car-free on separately managed cycle paths and farm paths: about 50% on separate cycle paths, about 30% on forest roads and inner-local secondary roads, about 15% on main roads with cycle traffic facilities. Sections at risk of flooding are signposted with a flood bypass. The cycle path has uniform signs with place and kilometre information. In the former industrial landscape of the Ruhr region, an attractive network of cycle paths and the ecological redevelopment of large forest areas have led to a significant territorial image improvement.