The Altmühl Valley Cycle Route

Your altmuehl valley cycle route begins in Rothenburg ob der Tauber. The small town is a real eye-catcher: narrow cobbled streets, half-timbered houses, town towers and fortified town walls characterize the romantic townscape. After checking into the hotel, take a stroll through the old town and let yourself be transported back to the Middle Ages.

From the Tauber, the route today takes you to the Altmühl. Colmberg is worth a first stopover. Leave your bike and climb up to the castle there, the basic structure of which has been preserved since the 12th century. Recharge your batteries in the castle's own restaurant before heading to Ansbach. The small town awaits you with a pretty baroque townscape, a stately residence and an extensive courtyard garden. With Herrieden or Lammelbach, you have reached your overnight destination for today.

After breakfast, enjoy a relaxed cycle to the Altmühlsee lake. It is located in a nature reserve and serves as a habitat for many bird species. You can also take a break at one of the bathing spots around the lake. Passing Gunzenhausen, the route continues along the Altmühl first to Wettelsheim, then to Treuchtlingen. The Romans, Celts and Franks settled around this small town. You can find out more about this in the town museum. Or how about a visit to the Obere Veste castle ruins above the town? Spend the night in Treuchtlingen or Wettelsheim.

Today the altmuehl valley cycle route takes you to the Altmühltal Nature Park. Take a break in Pappenheim on the way. From the tower of the castle there, you have a beautiful view of the town and the surrounding countryside. You can also take a break at the Solnhofen quarries, where you have the opportunity to go fossil hunting. Passing the striking rock formation Twelve Apostles and following the meanders of the Altmühl, you reach Eichstätt. Magnificent baroque buildings, churches and canons' courtyards dominate the cityscape. You spend the night in Eichstätt or in Wasserzell.

Pay a visit to the Eichstätt Jura Museumin Willibaldsburg Castle before getting back on your bike. The Natural History Museum presents numerous fossil finds from the region, including a specimen of Archaeopteryx, a prehistoric flying dinosaur. The Roman fort Vetoniana in Pfünz also takes you back in time. Following the Altmühl, you pass the geographical center of Bavaria at Kipfenberg and reach your destination for the day, Kinding or Enkering, a little later.

The altmuehl valley cycle route takes you via Beilngries to Dietfurt. Here the Altmühl meets the Main-Danube Canal. You reach your stage destination in Riedenburg. Nestled in the beautiful landscape of the Altmühl Valley, the small town is surrounded by the two castle ruins of Tachenstein and Rabenstein as well as the well-preserved Rosenburg Castle. The castle is a fortress complex that probably dates back to the 12th century.

Just a few kilometers from Riedenburg, you will reach Prunn. To visit the castle of the same name, situated on a 70-metre-high rock, you need to be in good shape. But the walk is worth it, as you get to see one of the best-preserved knights' castles in Bavaria. Back on the bike, the route continues to Kelheim. The Altmühl flows into the Danube here, which you follow to Regensburg. Take a stroll through the old town, which has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site, before setting off on your individual journey home.