Hike, make a pilgrimage and enjoy the Bergisch lakelands
THREE LAKES TOUR: ON THE BERGISCH JAKOBSWEG (WAY OF ST JAMES) TO REFRESHING VALLEY RESERVOIRS
Hike on the historic pilgrimage route passing beautiful man-made lakes
Who hasn’t heard of the Way of St James, the famous pilgrimage route that leads to Santiago de Compostela in Spain? The Bergisch Jakobsweg is part of this network of trails and also passes the most beautiful valley reservoirs in the Bergisches Land.
Follow the yellow shell
Discover your inner pilgrim and hike part of the way along the Bergisch Jakobsweg (Way of St James). All pilgrimage routes are marked with a yellow shell symbol. So is this one. It takes you from the cloister church in Beyenburg along the Wupper to your first destination, the Beyenburg reservoir.
From the smallest reservoir along the river Wupper
Like the other reservoirs in the Bergisches Land, the idyllically located Beyenburg reservoir is used primarily for flood control. And secondly, as a place to stop and rest.
Great variety: Ride the bicycle trolley over seven bridges
At the Beyenburg reservoir bridge, there is the option to ride along part of the old Wuppertal railway on the bicycle trolley. Book early at Wuppertrail.com and then pedal off into the distance. Your journey will take you over seven bridges and you will cross the Wupper four times.
Water, as far as the eye can see
But even on foot you quickly reach the Wupper reservoir upstream. A large lake has formed where the river once meandered through the valley. You can take a dip in the cool water here. It’s not the Wupper, but the Eschbach that is dammed to form the Eschbach reservoir.Germany’s first drinking water reservoir is the destination of your Three Lakes Tour.
Tip: Exciting cultural treasures can be discovered along the route. The former textile town of Wülfing, now an industrial monument, draws visitors in to marvel and get involved in what the town has to offer. Or follow the trail of Wilhelm Conrad Röntgen, inventor of the x-ray, at the German Röntgen Museum in Remscheid-Lennep. The beautiful historic town centre is also worth a short detour.