Cycle Tour Canal des 2 mers - Mediterranean route - Cycle route Switzerland-Mediterranean

In the morning having sunshine when I cycled to the train station. All connections worked and I arrived punctually at 14:44 in Kortrijk. The train RE29 from Aachen to Welkenraedt was quite run down and had no bicycle parking. But taking the bike into the entrance area was for the conductor no problem. In Welkenraedt no elevators and no destination boards available. The IC to Kortrijk drove deviating from track 4. The bicycle compartment can only be opened by the conductor. Silly when you want to get out.

In Kortrijk a ride through the city. Lively little town with many shops and scattered sights. Beautiful are the two defense towers and the Beguinage, the theater and the city church.

On bike paths I cycled out of town. Little traffic. On the outskirts I passed "stately" properties, villas from past and present times. Then it continued on narrow country roads. Slightly hilly.

From Junction 11 along the busy road on its own strip to Mouscron and without perceptible border on to Tourcoing.

There I came to the Canal de Roubaix and could cycle on a bike path with water-bound but sandy surface off the traffic. This remained so for the next 17 km to Lille. The surfaces sometimes were a bit better, sometimes worse.

The last 3.5 km from the canal to the accommodatikon led along a well-maintained bike path along a four-lane road, passing Lille Europe station, from where it continues tomorrow with the TGV.

The accommodation is very good and the landlady nice and dedicated. The bike has to park in the narrow hallway of the pension.

Equipped with a map and tips from my landlady I made a city tour. The churches were already closed (open until 18:00). In the old town center were the Grand Place with the Old Stock Exchange, the Town Hall, and many of the narrow streets worth seeing.

Again and again I passed houses with beautiful old facades.