Following the success of the Market Garden hiking trails, the LRE Foundation, in collaboration with Bart Verhulst, the creator of www.marketgarden.cc, developed the Market Garden cycling route, the first Liberation Route cycling route.
Stretching from Leopoldsburg in Belgium to the renowned “Bridge Too Far” in Arnhem, the Netherlands, the Market Garden route is littered with sites telling the stories of one of the largest Allied operations of the Second World War. Along the way, cyclists will encounter monuments, cemeteries, landmarks, audio stories, and remembrance sites. The new cycling route provides a unique opportunity to commemorate and pay tribute to those who lost their lives, as well as reflect on the liberation of Europe.
The total length of the route is 240 kilometres, which can be cycled in multiple stages. Beginning at the Liberation Garden Museum, the route follows the cycling knots system, enabling easy offline navigation while ensuring cyclists pass through picturesque landscapes and traverse peaceful roads. For a deeper immersion into the local history, cyclists can make use of the Liberation Route app, which highlights all the points of interest and their accompanying stories.
“It’s incredibly satisfying to see Liberation Route Europe evolve, now including not only hiking trails but also cycling routes.”, says Rémi Praud, LRE Foundation Managing Director. “The Operation Market Garden Cycling Route is a big step forward for our project, allowing a wider audience to engage with World War II history in a sustainable, green, and healthful manner. And this is just the beginning; new cycling routes will be developed across Europe in the coming months.”
Andrew Goodchild, a former British Army Aviator and avid cyclist, embarked on this historical journey alongside Bart Verhulst and Wout van Aalst, the LRE Foundation’s Project Officer. Together, they cycled the route to immerse themselves in the rich history of Market Garden. Videos documenting this adventure can be found on Andrew’s Youtube channel, Divum.
