The cycling vacation through bavaria

Your cycling vacation through bavaria starts in Bayreuth. After arriving at the hotel, grab your bike and explore the largest city in Upper Franconia. One of the most famous attractions is the Festival Theatre, which hosts the famous Richard Wagner Festival every year. It attracts music lovers from all over the world. The city is also known for its impressive architecture, including the Margravial Opera House, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Bayreuth is also home to parks and gardens that are perfect for a stroll.

The first stage of your cycling vacation through bavaria takes you along the Red Main. It has its source around 10 kilometers south of Bayreuth in the Franconian Alb. If you like, take a detour to Kulmbach on the way. The town's landmark is Plassenburg Castle, one of the largest Renaissance fortresses in Germany. Before continuing your journey, treat yourself to a Kulmbach bratwurst, which is traditionally eaten in a bratwurst stollen, an elongated aniseed roll. You will be greeted by a medieval atmosphere at your destination for the day, Burgkunstadt.

Today you cycle to Bamberg on the Main Cycle Path. On the way, a detour to the Vierzehnheiligen basilica is a good idea. It is one of the most important buildings of the German Baroque period and was built in the middle of the 18th century according to the plans of the famous master builder Balthasar Neumann. Bamberg is no less architecturally interesting. The town on the Regnitz is surrounded by picturesque hills and has a rich history that is still reflected in many of its buildings today. In addition to architecture, Bamberg is also home to the art of brewing. Try the famous Rauchbier, a special Bamberg beer specialty.

Only a few kilometers after you have left Bamberg, you cross the border between Beer and Wine Franconia. You will realize that you are in Wine Franconia when you reach the picturesque half-timbered town of Zeil am Main. Take a break and sample the Franconian wine that is grown around the town. The route continues to Haßfurt, where you can visit the Ritterkapelle chapel, one of the most important late Gothic buildings in Lower Franconia. The route continues through small, romantic wine villages to Schweinfurt.

The cycling vacation through bavaria takes you leisurely along vineyards and small villages to the Volkacher Mainschleife. Shortly before you reach Volkach, you can take a break at the pilgrimage church Maria im Weingarten. Here you will find the figure of the floating Madonna in the Rosary, an important work by the German carver Tilman Riemenschneider. Leave your bike again, explore the old town of Volkach and enjoy a good drop of wine from the surrounding vineyards. Continue to your destination for the day, Kitzingen. One of the town's landmarks is the 15th century Falterturm tower with its leaning spire.

Continuing along the Main, you cycle via Ochsenfurt to the old episcopal city of Würzburg. It is known for its impressive baroque architecture, including the Residenz, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is considered one of the most beautiful baroque palaces in Europe and impresses with its magnificent rooms and beautifully landscaped courtyard garden. The Marienberg Fortress on a promontory above the River Main is also well worth a visit. Numerous traditional wine taverns invite you to enjoy Franconian wines and local specialties after an exploratory walk.

Leaving Würzburg behind you, you will have earned a short break after just a few kilometers. Take a stroll through the famous palace gardens in Veitshöchheim, which were laid out in rococo style in the 18th century. The playful garden is famous for its terraces, works of art and landscaping. Back on the bike, you cycle to Gemünden, the gateway to the Spessart. The ruins of Scherenburg Castle, which was probably built in the 13th century, can be seen from afar. The nearby town of Lohr is known as Schneewitchenstadt . Legend has it that the model for the fairy tale Snow White lived in Lohr. You spend the night in Gemünden or Lohr.

Today you cycle to the confluence of the rivers Main and Tauber. On the way there you will get to know Marktheidenfeld. Take a tour of the beautiful old town and pay a visit to the Franck House. Tradition has it that sparkling wine production in Germany was invented in the bright blue house. You soon reach Wertheim. Visit the castle ruins, which can be seen from afar and offer you a wonderful view of the old town with its half-timbered houses and the picturesque river landscape.

Turning your back on the Main, the Tauber is your constant companion on today's stage. Lined by vineyards, you reach Bad Mergentheim not far from the river via Tauberbischofsheim, a town of fencers, and Lauda, known as a wine town. The castle there is home to the Teutonic Order Museum, which deals with the history of the order and the town, among other things. Your destination for the day, Weikersheim, not only offers the opportunity to visit one of the most important Renaissance castles in Germany, but also to taste full-bodied wines such as the Tauberschwarz.

Today you cycle through the lovely Tauber Valley to the epitome of a medieval German town - Rothenburg ob der Tauber. Stately towers and gates, narrow alleyways and numerous half-timbered houses form an ensemble of buildings that is second to none. Probably the most popular photo motif in Rothenburg is the Plönlein. The charming little square is surrounded by historic buildings and the Siebers and Kobolzellertor gates. Also worth seeing is the town hall, which is one of the most beautiful in southern Germany. In the evening, you have the opportunity to take part in a night watchman tour.

Leaving the Tauber Valley behind you, the cycling vacation through bavaria takes you through quiet, rural areas where you can enjoy the beauty of Franconian nature. A stopover in Colmberg is a good idea. The castle there dates back to the 13th century. Your stage destination Ansbach awaits you with a picturesque baroque townscape. The stately residence and the orangery with its courtyard garden are well worth a visit. Last but not least, don't miss out on the culinary delights: Try the Ansbacher Bratwurst, which has its origins in the Middle Ages.

From Ansbach, the route takes you to Herrieden and the Altmühl. You cycle leisurely along the river and reach the Altmühlsee. The reservoir is located in a nature reserve and provides a habitat for many bird species. Take advantage of one of the bathing spots by the lake to refresh yourself before continuing on to Wettelsheim or Treuchtlingen. The Celts, Romans and Franks left their mark on the region. You can find out more about this at the Treuchtlingen Museum. You will spend the night in Wettelsheim or Treuchtlingen.

Today, the cycling vacation through bavaria takes you to the Altmühltal Nature Park. You can take a break in Pappenheim. The castle, enthroned on a mountain spur, probably dates back to the 11th century. The well-preserved complex houses a museum that provides information about the castle's history. The tour continues to Solnhofen. You have the opportunity to go fossil hunting in the local quarry. After passing the Twelve Apostles rock formation, you will reach Wasserzell and, one turn of the Altmühl, Eichstätt. Baroque buildings characterize the image of the former bishop's town. You spend the night in Eichstätt or Wasserzell.

Before you turn your back on Eichstätt, a visit to Willibaldsburg Castle is a good idea. The castle, built in the 14th century, is home to the Jura Museum, which exhibits a specimen of the Archaeopteryx, among other things. A few kilometers downstream, you can also travel back in time. The Vetoniana castle in Pfünz takes you back to Roman times. Cycling further along the Altmühl, you pass the geographical center of Bavaria at Kipfenberg. You reach your stage destination in Beilngries.

Today's cycling day is also almost free of climbs. First you reach Dietfurt. Here you gradually say goodbye to the Altmühl, which now shares its riverbed with the Main-Danube Canal for a few kilometers. Take a break in Riedenburg, which is beautifully embedded in the landscape of the Altmühl valley. Pay a visit to the well-preserved Rosenburg Castle and get fascinatingly close to various birds of prey during a flight demonstration. Continue past Prunn Castle and the Schulerloch stalactite cave to Essing and Kelheim respectively.

From Kelheim, follow the course of the Danube. You quickly reach Regensburg. The city at the northernmost point of the Danube looks back on a history that began several thousand years ago. One of the oldest buildings is the Porta Praetoria, a remnant of a Roman legionary camp. Equally worth seeing is the impressive St. Peter's Cathedral and the Princely Palace of the von Thurn und Taxis family. Work up an appetite? Then treat yourself to a bratwurst from the world's oldest sausage roasting house - the Wurstkuchl - not far from the Stone Bridge - after a long walk through the city.

The cycling vacation through bavarian is unthinkable without a visit to Walhalla . The impressive memorial in Donaustauf was modeled on an ancient temple. Built in the 19th century, not only is the interior decorated with busts and memorial plaques worth seeing, but the view of the Danube is also unique. Almost unnoticed, you cycle through the Gäuboden, a region that is also known as the Bavarian Granary due to its fertile soil. The largest town in the Gäuboden is Straubing, your stage destination. In the Gäubodenmuseum, you can visit the Straubing Roman Treasure, one of the most important Roman finds in Germany.

Today the Danube accompanies you once again. You cycle leisurely to Bogen. Visit the pilgrimage church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary on the Bogenberg and enjoy the view of the Danube. With the Gäuboden on your right and the Bavarian Forest on your left, you cycle to Deggendorf. The town is not only known as the gateway to the Bavarian Forest, the dumpling also has a special significance for Deggendorf. According to legend, a woman saved the town from an attack by Bohemian soldiers in the 13th century - by throwing a dumpling. Turning your back on the Danube, you reach Plattling.

Today your cycling vacation through bavarian follow the Isar. Via Landau and Dingolfing you reach your destination for the day, Landshut. The city, which was already mentioned in the 12th century, has one of the best-preserved old towns in Germany. Leave your bikes behind and explore it on an extended walk through the town. Be impressed by St. Martin's Abbey Basilica with the highest brick tower in the world and Trausnitz Castle on the Hofberg. Probably the city's most important event is the Landshut Wedding, which takes place every four years. It is one of the largest historical festivals in Europe.

You cycle along the Isar to Moosburg. You will see the towers of St. Castulus Minster and St. John's Church from afar, which initially give the impression that they belong to the same building due to their height. The route continues through the Isar meadows to Freising. The town with its narrow streets, spacious market and small squares is nestled between the Domberg and the Weihenstephaner Berg. The latter is home to the oldest brewery in the world, which emerged from a monastery complex. Freising is also known for its proximity to Munich Airport.

Of course, the state capital of Munich should not be missed on your cycling vacation through bavarian. Following the course of the Isar, you cycle directly into the green heart of the city, the English Garden. Munich's old town with Marienplatz and the New Town Hall, the Frauenkirche and the Residenz are also real eye-catchers. If you don't want to cycle back to Freising, you can cover the route by train (not included).

After breakfast, your cycling vacation through bavarian comes to an end. We are happy to extend your stay in Bavarian with an extra night.