Cycle path de l'Attert (PC 12)

Visit Luxembourg

Description

Refreshment stops available

The Attert cycle path (PC 12) begins in Pétange and follows the tracks of the old Attert railway line, which used to connect Pétange and Ettelbruck.

The Attert cycle path is the perfect route for family outings. This exciting group adventure starts in Pétange and then follows the tracks of the old Attert line, the railway line that used to connect Pétange and Ettelbruck, for most of the route. Now you ride literally on the border between Belgium and Luxembourg. Soon the route adventure takes a new turn. You follow the traces of the famous Charly, an old narrow-gauge railway that leads towards the sept châteaux (seven castles). Intrepid cyclists now cross a valley with mighty castles and fortresses—here, nobles once built their strongholds, such as the château-fort de Hollenfels or the baroque château d'Ansembourg. Further along the path, one encounters another magnificent structure—a 700-meter long illuminated tunnel through Luxembourg sandstone—and experiences a surprising and interesting twist.

for tour routing

GPX

cycle-path-attert-pc-12 gpx

Audio

Steinfort mp3 Noerdange Station mp3 Useldange Castle mp3

Directions

The Attert cycle path follows the former route of the "ligne de l'Attert" (Pétange-Ettelbruck) for most of its length, which begins in Pétange, PC6 and PC8, (275m above sea level) at the intersection of "rue de Luxembourg" (N5) with "rue de Linger". It rises northwards, crossing the Southerner on a bridge. After Linger, the route turns east, past Hautcharage, then north towards Clemency. It bypasses the "Lamerbierg" (highest point at 374m) via a gentle ascent (highest point at 346m "op der Boufferdanger Muer"). After about 7 kilometers of running route, you reach the old Clemency station and leave it towards Grass, having crossed the road to Grass (CR110) towards Schockmillen and the Belgian-Luxembourg border. At the entrance to Grass, after following the Belgian border continuously in the "Rommebësch" forest, the path crosses the CR110 again towards Kahler. In Kahler, the route follows the main road (CR106), meaning you have to turn right and ride a few hundred meters towards the center. After crossing the Eisch, the CP turns left at the first intersection into "Rue des Champs". The cycle path thus bypasses the "Rébierg", the highest point of the region at 400m above sea level, in a wide loop that can be crossed by following the "main road" in Kahler. After climbing the "Rébierg", turn left at the first intersection (CR101) at the entrance to Hivange towards Fingig to return to the cycle path in Clemency. At the exit of Kahler, it runs parallel to the Arlon motorway (A6) through the fields and along the "Ierwebësch" to the "Buchholzerbësch", where it merges with the PC13 towards Garnich. The PC12 turns north, crosses the A6 motorway towards Hagen and reaches the entrance of Steinfort on the "route d'Arlon" N6. Steinfort is bypassed to the east to follow the old "Charly" (former narrow-gauge railway) towards the Valley of the Seven Castles. In Eischen, the path crosses the Eisch again to hike slightly uphill towards "Rommebierg", which it bypasses via a 700-meter long illuminated tunnel dug through Luxembourg sandstone. At the end of the tunnel, it goes gently downhill to pass the villages of Hovelange and Noerdange. Cross-border route "Le Belarel": From Eischen, you can take a 54 km route around Arlon called the "boucle cyclable récréactive - Le Belarel", which runs on picturesque side roads but sometimes has poor road surfaces. In the center of Eischen, you can ride towards Clairefontaine to the Belgian border. The entire route is fully signposted from the center of Clairefontaine. After the old Noerdange station, the route turns right towards Useldange. At the exit of Noerdange begins the PC17 "PC de l'Ouest", which follows the old narrow-gauge railway Noerdange-Martelange towards Martelange, while the PC12 reaches Useldange on the N24 at the foot of the 12th-century castle ruins. In the center of Useldange, it takes Rue de la Gare (CR116 and CR305C) to follow the course of the Attert river, and in the center of Boevange, it takes state and municipal roads ["rue de Buschdorf" (CR112) and "rue Helpert" (partly on CR114)] to continue on its own ground towards Bissen. The route reaches Bissen via "Rue du Finsterthal" and turns into "Rue Merelbach" to pass the railway crossing at the exit of Bissen. Following the Attert valley again, the PC12 de l'Attert ends in Colmar-Berg (205 m above sea level), where it meets the PC15 "PC de l'Alzette".