Ubbergen: Hiking and Architectural History on the Hillside

Ubbergen combines a hillside setting on a glacial push moraine with walking trails, views, and remarkable architectural history. Small vineyards and old deciduous woodland shape the landscape; from the edge of the moraine, you can look out over the Waal and the Ooijpolder. If you are looking for a hotel for your trip, Ubbergen is a destination for walks and cultural history.

Landscape and Townscape

The nationally protected townscape of Ubbergen lies on a glacial push moraine east of Nijmegen. The landscape offers different perspectives depending on the route: hillsides and deciduous woodland sit alongside vineyards, while the edge of the moraine opens up views across the river and polder landscape. This combination gives the walks a clear connection to the town, rather than making them just routes through the surrounding area.

Walks on the Heights and in the Lowlands

The Dorpsommetje Ubbergen-hoog is 5.5 kilometres long and leads through the town centre and over the Ubbergen push moraine. Along the Rijksstraatweg, the route passes villas lined up on both sides of the road like a monumental chain. This loop thus combines a walk through the town with views of the hillside landscape and a striking row of houses. The starting point is a five-minute walk from the Ubbergen – Ubbergse Holleweg bus stop on line 80 between Nijmegen and Millingen. Check the current bus timetable before setting out.

At 3.7 kilometres, the Dorpsommetje Ubbergen-laag is the shorter of the two waymarked loops. It leads through the low-lying, damp part of Ubbergen, through the spring area at the foot of the hill range, and through the Beek polder. The route includes the Koen Vandepoelpad, a boardwalk over a marshy area. A footbridge incorporates a viewpoint over Zwanenbroekje and the Ooijpolder; visibility may depend on the conditions at the time. The two loops therefore differ both in length and in the landscapes they pass through. Trail conditions can change, so it is worth checking them before setting out.

The N70 Nature Trail also climbs to higher ground: it runs to the summit of Ravenberg and to a viewpoint overlooking the spring area. At the Ubbergen town sign, it turns towards Beukenlaan. Those considering several walking routes will find different points of interest: the loop through the town centre and villa-lined street, the lowland route with its damp terrain, boardwalk, and bridge, and Ravenberg with its viewpoint.

Architectural History in the Town

Hervormde Kerk Ubbergen currently serves as a Reformed church and a multifunctional space. De Refter is a neo-Gothic complex built between 1910 and 1916, consisting of a single-nave chapel and a boarding school. The building formerly housed the Notre Dame des Anges monastery and is also known as Ter Meer. Today, De Refter serves as a communal residence. These changing uses provide a timeline for its architectural history without conflating its former monastic functions with its current use.

For a stay combining walks and local history, Ubbergen offers several specific points of interest: the protected hillside landscape and townscape, the two Dorpsommetjes with their different routes and landscapes, and the striking buildings. The route lengths help you compare the two loops; the N70 adds Ravenberg and the spring area to the options. You can plan around whichever aspects interest you most while you are there.

Discover more destinations: Beek-Ubbergen, Ooij.

Return to the main travel overview: Ubbergen.