Along the river of poets

The Neckar Bike Trail: From Villingen to Heidelberg.

Spend your bicycle vacation in one of the most famous wine growing region of Germany along the beautiful river of Neckar. Discover famous towns like Tübingen, Marbach, Eberbach and Heidelberg. Your bike tour ends in Heidelberg which is a very charming city. Steeped in tradition, this town is home to seemingly contrasting worlds. This makes it exciting and keeps it young at heart. Take some time to get to know the city and discover its many facets. You'll be inspired.The Neckar bike trail is well-signposted leading for the most part along asphalted roads, quiet country roads and bike paths.

1. day  Villingen arrival

A nice small town with emperor´s tower, monastery of the Benedictines and Franciscan museum is waiting for you. The hotel is located in the city/parking at the hotel possible/handing out of the bicycles in the hotel.

2. day  Rottweil 28 km

Today you will have an idyllic stage! Directly from the spring of the river Neckar at the watershed between Rhine and Danube you cycle through dreamy and romantic countrysides to the free city of Rottweil, which is well known for its beautiful townscape.

3. day  Sulz-Hopfau/Glatt 46/ 50 km

Stroll between houses with bays, wells and old facades before you start cycling. You roll through the valley of the Neckar and gaze the stately ruins of castles at the early course of the river. Accommodation in Sulz-Hopfau or Glatt.

4. day  Tübingen 48/ 52 km

Look forward to visit the lively Swabian university town Tübingen! In Tübingen you can find the highest „density of students“ of all German university towns. There is much to see: Castle Bebenhausen, castle Hohentübingen, the tower of Hölderlin, snug half-timbering in narrow lanes and ethnic pubs.

5. day  Esslingen 54 km

Today you will see a beautiful countryside. The river Neckar leads you on beautiful bicycle paths through gardens and small villages. Numerous bathing lakes, the picturesque little town of Nürtingen and the rain tower of Hundertwasser in Plochingen will fill you with enthusiasm.

6. day  Marbach 39/ 44 km

A day with many highlights is waiting for you: a visit of the famous Mercedes-Benz- Museum, the beautiful regional capital Stuttgart with it´s first-class bicycle paths, the worth seeing palace in the baroque town of Ludwigsburg and last, but not least: the picturesque Marbach with the Schiller national- Museum. Accommodation in Marbach or Freiberg.

7. day  Heilbronn 41/46 km

Now the wine has definitely caught you! Surrounded by vines you cycle to the pearls of the river Neckar: Besigheim with the famous part of the river Enz, Lauffen – birth place of Hölderlin and Heilbronn, the town of Käthchen. Round off your fine day with stroll through the old town and visit the gothic church called Kilianskirche and the city hall, which belongs to the most beautiful ones in Germany.

8. day  Eberbach 56 km

The day of the castles! In the morning you cycle along the Burgenstrasse to Neckarsulm, where the German bicycle museum is waiting for you. You will be impressed by the marvellous silhouette of the town of Bad Wipfen. Visit the castle Guttenberg with the falconry and the castle Hornberg, where Götz von Berlichingen lived. Past the castle Zwingenberg you cycle to Eberbach, the old town of the Staufer dynasty.

9. day  Heidelberg 34 km

A spectacular day is waiting for you! The river Neckar winds its way through the mountain ranges of the Odenwald. You will be enthusiastic about the picturesque small town Hischhorn with its knight´s castle, the town of the four castles – Neckarsteinach, the medieval town Neckargemünd and of course about the the old university town Heidelberg!

10. day  Heidelberg departure

Today your Neckar bike trail ends after breakfast.