Geldern combines historic sites with outdoor activities: the Fossa Eugeniana remained an unfinished canal between the Rhine and the Meuse, while St. Mary Magdalene Church, Geldern’s Mill Tower and Steprather Mill offer different points of historical interest. Well-developed cycle paths connect the seven villages that belong to Geldern; sights can also be explored on foot, by bicycle, on inline skates or on horseback. The accommodation that suits your plans will therefore depend above all on whether you want to focus on culture, the mill in Walbeck, seasonal cuisine or cycle paths. Compare the location of each property with the visits that matter to you.

Fossa Eugeniana: an unfinished canal

The Fossa Eugeniana is an unfinished canal between the Rhine and the Meuse. Its visible remains are archaeological monuments. The Fossa Route passes through Geldern and follows the historic course of the unfinished canal. When planning, it is worth distinguishing between the two: the canal represents an unfinished construction project, while the route follows its historic course. This allows you to connect a tangible feature of the landscape with the broader route between the two rivers.

Church and town fortifications

St. Mary Magdalene Church is a three-aisled Gothic hall church dating from around 1400. Its three aisles and hall design give the building a clear architectural identity. After being damaged in the war in 1945, the church was rebuilt in a simplified form, without its vault. Its architectural history therefore comprises two clearly distinct periods: the Gothic church around 1400 and its reconstruction after the destruction of 1945.

Geldern’s Mill Tower was part of the medieval town fortifications. Underground passageways and casemates can be visited; check the current access arrangements in advance. The tower also hosts art exhibitions, and the programme may change. The Mill Tower therefore offers a different focus from the church’s architecture, bringing together the history of fortifications, underground spaces and changing art exhibitions.

Steprather Mill and seasonal cuisine

Steprather Mill in Geldern-Walbeck is considered Germany’s oldest fully operational windmill and dates from the 15th century. During opening hours, you can visit with an expert guide. As visiting arrangements may change, it is advisable to check the current opening times in advance. The attached café serves bread and cake made with flour from the mill; the menu may change.

The time of year you travel can also make a difference: freshly harvested white asparagus is served in Geldern-Walbeck in May and June. If you are planning a trip in these months, you can make this seasonal speciality a culinary occasion in its own right. It complements the historic sites with a distinctly time-specific glimpse of local food culture.

Cycle paths and ways to explore Geldern

Well-developed cycle paths connect the seven villages that belong to Geldern and pass through nature reserves and along rivers. Geldern and its sights can also be explored by bicycle, on foot, on inline skates or on horseback. These different options can help you choose your focus: the cycle paths connect the villages, while the various ways of getting around offer a broader range of ways to explore the sights.

Cycling plans in the wider destination of Kleve

In the wider destination of Kleve, a pocket planner in fold-out format shows all the junctions in the district of Kleve and includes helpful information about how the district-wide junction system works. The signposted Niers Cycle Route is 128 kilometres long and runs from the source of the Niers in Mönchengladbach through the districts of Viersen and Kleve to the municipality of Gennep in the Netherlands. The district of Kleve also has more than 1,500 kilometres of cycle paths and numerous themed routes. This information provides a broader framework for planning cycling trips in the wider destination of Kleve.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Rees, Kalkar, Emmerich Am Rhein, Goch, Straelen, Kevelaer, Rheurdt, Haldern

Return to the wider travel overview: Kleve.