The Free State of the Land of Ravenstein

The Land of Ravenstein consists of the current municipalities of Boekel, Maashorst and Oss. Get on your bicycle and become acquainted with this beautiful region. Discover unique locations in the Brabant countryside with its woods and heathlands.

(2 hour) 27.0 km

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Explore the county(side)
The Land of Ravenstein consists of the current municipalities of Boekel, Maashorst and Oss. Get on your bicycle and become acquainted with this beautiful region. Discover unique locations in the Brabant countryside with its woods and heathlands in the Maashorst. Cycle over winding dykes along the Maas and look out over the vast polders and floodplains. Visit the attractive medieval cities or town centres and settle down on a charming terrace. The ten discovery trips allow you to become acquainted with the beauty in this area. You cycle past many monasteries, churches and chapels, with the opportunity of stopping in at Museum Krona in Uden or staying in the great outdoors. Something for everyone!

During the ten exploratory journeys, you visit al…

During the ten exploratory journeys, you visit all the cities and villages of the Land of Ravenstein, the adjoining county Megen and the surrounding areas. You can simply follow the routes and enjoy all the beauty, or you can study the history and culture of this region. To do so, download the interactive “Free State of the Land of Ravenstein” app and click on the places of interest that are given on the cycle routes. Discover more about everything that has taken place in this area.

Cycle through a cultural treasure
The ten cycle routes transport you through the history of the Land of Ravenstein. The Land of Ravenstein has a special history because, from 1360 to 1795, it was a sovereign country where religious freedom ruled. Catholic monastic orders that were driven off by the Dutch after the treaty of Munster in 1648 found a safe haven in the Land of Ravenstein as well as in the adjoining county Megen. This unique history has provided an incredible wealth of cultural, religious and monumental heritage in a country that has also been royally endowed with areas of magnificent natural beauty.

How do these discovery trips work?
Get on your bicycle and become acquainted with this special piece of country! Are you able to earn the passport by cycling all of the routes? Or are you only visiting the Land of Ravenstein for a short while? The route forms for all ten of the discovery trips and the day pass (one free cycle route) can be obtained from the Tourist Information Centres in Oss, Megen, Ravenstein or Uden. The folder with all ten discovery trips costs € 14.95.

Collecting letters
Each journey has a name that is linked with the history of the Land of Ravenstein. It is up to you to figure it out by collecting letters. These letters can be found on the coats of arms at monuments and catering locations along the route. The locations of the letters are given on the route forms. Take a picture of the letter or write it down.

Let’s get going!
If you have done all ten journeys, then get started with the letters that you have collected. In other words, start solving the puzzle! If you have figured out the answer and think you have earned the passport, stop in at the stamping point, which is also the head office of the Land of Ravenstein (Sint Luciastraat 2, Ravenstein), and anxiously wait to see if you will be granted access to this country.

Route information
The route, which makes use of the numbered junction network, is 27 km long in total in the area around Ravenstein. The route starts and ends at winehouse Lodewijk Napoleon (Marktstraat, Ravenstein). Here you can park your car and get on your bike.

Additional route information

We have more information available about this route.

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Hotline routes
Hotline routes
If there is something wrong on the route, report it here.

Sights on this route

Hotel De Keurvorst

The hotel, café and restaurant ‘De Keursvorst’ has been an easy-to-reach meeting place in the idyllic centre of Ravenstein for hundreds of years.

De Kriekeput

Charme Camping Hartje Groen & De Boshut

Nestled in the woods, in the heart of De Maashorst, the largest contiguous nature reserve in Brabant, is Charme Camping Hartje Groen & De Boshut.

End point:

Waypoint bike 18
Oss
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