The best cycling routes around Echt-Susteren

An oasis of calm.

The Sint Annakapel was built in 1896 according to a design by the Roermond architect Nicolaas van der Schuit. The small neo-Gothic chapel is dedicated to Saint Anne, the mother of Mary, and was built as a replacement for an older chapel. Inside, there is a stone altar retable designed by Van der Schuit, original wooden church pews, and a barrel vault with a decorative stucco molding. The furnishings are in the tradition of the workshop of Pierre Cuypers, with whom Van der Schuit worked as a student and collaborator.

Through the woods, pleasant on hot days

It is good cycling on the paved towpaths along the Meuse.

The nature reserves in the cross-border River Park Maasvallei are managed by Natuurmonumenten and Staatsbosbeheer on the Dutch side, and by Limburgs Landschap and Natuurpunt on the Flemish side. To keep the rugged river nature in check and simultaneously introduce variation and dynamism to the landscape, they use large grazers. Without management, the areas would quickly become overgrown and dense with forest. Along the Maas, you almost exclusively see Galloway cattle and Konik horses. As permanent maintenance workers, they roam through the nature reserves. They graze, prune, fertilize, break open the soil with their hooves, and spread seeds via their coats and droppings. This keeps open spaces and allows a varied and rich landscape full of life to develop. Both the Galloways and the Koniks roam the areas year-round. They are strong, robust breeds built to live outdoors year-round without assistance. They are hardy, self-sufficient, and flexible. They adapt their coat, behavior, and digestion according to the conditions of the season. They find their own food and brave wind, rain, snow, and sunshine.

The Maas forms the border between the Netherlands and Belgium for a distance of forty kilometers. Here the river has free rein and can be quite wild. A maze of old riverbeds, banks, rapids, and gravel banks creates a wild, untouched landscape. And where there is water, there is life! Konik horses and Galloway cattle graze on the banks, while rare butterflies flutter by. This cross-border nature reserve is a paradise for hikers with over 200 kilometers of trails. There is also an extensive network of cycle paths! Discover not only the natural beauty but also the idyllic villages along the Maas and cross the river via a bridge or ferry. These large herbivores play a crucial role in managing the natural environment. Together, they create a diverse landscape. In winter, the cattle graze on trees and shrubs, while the Konik horses feast on the shorter grass and the best herbs. This unique combination prevents the area from being overgrown by pastures and creates a dynamic mosaic of open meadows, rough scrub, and forests. This keeps nature constantly in motion! The Maas is a rain-fed river, which means that the hiking trails in RivierPark Maasvallei sometimes experience floods during periods of heavy rainfall. This can affect the accessibility of the trails.

A great experience to observe the free-roaming horses up close on the banks of the Meuse.

From the bridge, you have a great view of the canal.