Altmühltal and Danube Gorge

Atlmühl Cycle Path

Start your holiday experience along the fascinating Altmühl. The Altmühltal cycle path is one of the great classics of cycle paths! In Rothenburg o. d. Tauber get in the mood for historical sights and cultural experiences on a city tour with the night watchman. Discover the beauty and diversity of the landscapes by bike. At the young Altmühl in one of the few still existing river swimming pools in Germany it is still possible: swim in the river - without frustration! Enjoy the holiday atmosphere at Altmühlsee, an afternoon in the worth seeing baroque, bishopric and university town of Eichstätt, marvel at Charlemagne's 1200-year-old attempt to connect the Main and Danube via a canal, be fascinated by the rock formations of the 12 Apostles, experience the Danube breakthrough by ship and explore the old town of Regensburg, which is well worth seeing. Discover this extraordinary and impressive old town, which has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2006, as it represents an outstanding example of an intra-European medieval trading center. Many of its buildings are of exceptional quality and testify to its political, economic and religious importance since the 9th century . What a crowning conclusion to your bike tour.

1. day Rothenburg o.d. Tauber arrival

Come to Rothenburg on time today! A historic old town with medieval flair awaits you. Marvel at the beautiful turrets and bay windows, the half-timbered houses lovingly decorated with flower boxes, beautiful patrician houses, magnificent facades and the Rothenburg market square, an international meeting place for young and old.

2. day Rothenburg o. d. Tauber - Ansbach 50 km (Cat. A) / Rothenburg o. d. Tauber - Herrieden 50 km (Cat. B)

After a few kilometers by bike you will reach the Frankenhöhe, the headwaters of the Altmühl. The ridge is quickly mastered on small asphalted side streets without much effort, and soon afterwards Colmberg Castle greets you, one of the few well-preserved medieval castles in Germany. Rest at the height with a fantastic view or comfortably a few kilometers further in an idyllic forest swimming pool on the still young Altmühl. So refreshed you cycle on to Ansbach, a former residential town with a magnificent rococo palace, or to Herrieden.

3. day Ansbach - Wettelsheim/Weißenburg 60 km (Cat. A) / Herrieden - Wettelsheim/Treuchtlingen 50/60 km (Cat. B)

On the banks of the Altmühlsee, the cycle route leads to one of the largest and most species-rich bird sanctuaries in Germany. Watch the hustle and bustle of the bird world. Jump into the floods of the beautiful lake and then marvel at the Karlsgraben before you reach your destination for the day.

4. day Wettelsheim - Eichstätt, 50 km

The scenically most spectacular part of your bike tour begins in Treuchtlingen. The white gleaming dolomite rocks tower imposingly out of the Altmühltal. In the afternoon you can look forward to Eichstätt, an old baroque, bishopric and university town worth seeing. Elegant elegance and sweeping grace permeate the streets of Eichstätt. Baroque houses, churches and canons' courtyards shine in lovely colours. Marvel at the magnificent hall of mirrors and the staircase of the Residenz, which is well worth seeing, as well as at the water-spouting fountains on Eichstätt's squares

5. day Eichstätt - Beilngries, 45 km

The Altmühl is slowly getting wider and wider, and the valley is becoming more and more beautiful. Be enchanted by the juniper heath, marvel at the Roman fort in Pfünz and look forward to Beilngries with its towers and interesting museums. In the afternoon, stroll comfortably through the old town of Beilngries and thus through the Middle Ages, Rococo and Baroque. Marvel at the venerable walls and extraordinary city towers that encircle Beilngries. They belong to the former city wall, parts of which are still preserved today. The towers themselves were built from 1407 - originally there were fifteen, today nine of them are still in place.

6. day Beilngries - Abensberg/Bad Gögging/Kelheim 60 km + Schifffahrt (Cat. A) / Beilngries - Essing/Kelheim 40/50 km

Experience a change in the river landscape once again: on the last 35 km to the confluence of the Altmühl and the Danube, the Rhine-Main-Danube canal cuts its way through the valley and replaces the original course of the river. Marvel at the longest wooden bridge in Europe and the Schulerloch stalactite cave. In the afternoon, take a trip on the Ludwigsbahn, a white and blue miniature train, from the shipping pier up to the Michelsberg to the Liberation Hall. Enjoy the magnificent view and marvel at the impressive structure commissioned by King Ludwig I of Bavaria. You shouldn't miss a visit to Schneider Weisse in the center of Kelheim today, as it is the oldest wheat beer brewery in Bavaria and offers you a shady spot in the beer garden.

7. day Bad Gögging/Abensberg - Regensburg 55 km + Schifffahrt (Cat. A) / Kelheim - Regensburg 50/40 km

You cycle along the Abens and the Danube to the Weltenburg Monastery. Take a break in the monastery's beer garden before taking a romantic boat trip through the rugged Danube Gorge. Marvel at Regensburg's Stone Bridge, a masterpiece of medieval architecture, the Golden Tower, the oldest and tallest patrician tower in the UNESCO World Heritage city, the old town hall and St. Peter's Cathedral, one of the most important Gothic works in Bavaria.

8. day Regensburg departure

Unfortunately it's over! If you still have some time, you can take part in a worthwhile city tour in the morning before you start your journey home. Book our practical return transfer to Rothenburg for your return journey (departure daily in the morning, duration approx. 3 hours).

Worth knowing

Below you will find specific information about the Altmühl bike trail and surroundings. If you have further questions about this trip, you simply call us: Phone: 06421 – 886890.

Arrival by train

Rothenburg o.d. Tauber is easily accessible from all major cities in Germany by train. We recommend to take a taxi from the station to get to our partner hotels in Rothenburg o.d. Tauber. Current schedule information and price information can be found at: www.bahn.de.

Train schedule information

Parking facilities at the hotel

Some of the hotels have their own parking facilities directly at the hotel, these are subject to a fee and cannot be reserved through us in advance. There is free parking behind the train station, this parking lot is often occupied by commuters and cannot be reserved. For further information, you can get in touch with the respective arrival hotel after you have received your hotel list.

Condition of cycle paths

On the continuously signposted Altmühltal cycle path you cycle nearly without inclines on paved forest and field paths, small side roads with little traffic and mostly finely pebbled cycle paths. This tour is suitable for families.

Available rental bikes

If you would like a rental bike for the tour, we will bring it to your starting hotel and pick it up again at your destination. You can choose between 27-speed touring bikes with derailleur gears and freewheel and 8-speed touring bikes with hub gears and back pedal, both as unisex models with a low entry and from men's bikes from 1.75m tall. Eight-speed electric bikes with hub gears and freewheel are also available as unisex bikes. The rental bikes are equipped with a waterproof saddle bag, a handlebar bag, a tool set, an air pump, an odometer and a lock. Simply let us know what bike you want when you make your booking.

Extra costs that are not included in the tour price

Any tourism tax that may be incurred is not part of the tour price and must therefore be paid on-site at the hotel.

7 day hotline service

Just in case the bike chain breaks, flooding makes it impossible to continue your tour or any other nasty surprise: You can reach us seven days a week and we will do anything to help you as fast as possible.

Extra costs, which are not inculded in the price

Boattrip along the Danube Gorge is not included. A possibly applicable city tax is not part of the price and has to be paid at the hotel locally.

Passport and visa requirements, health regulations

For EU citizens, there are no special passport or visa requirements and no health formalities to be considered for this trip.

Corona travel information:
Before booking your trip, please inform yourself about the measures in place to contain the Corona pandemic.

Information on current decisions of the German Federal Government can be found here:
https://www.bundesregierung.de/corona-these-rules-and-restrictions-apply

Current information on entry requirements to Germany can be found here:
https://www.auswaertiges-amt.de/en/coronavirus

You can also find more information on our website at:
Corona virus and holiday planning

Travel insurance

The tour price already includes the statutory insolvency insurance. In addition, we recommend that you take out travel cancellation insurance upon receipt of your travel confirmation in order to protect yourself against financial disadvantages in the event of travel cancellation, interruption of travel, illness or accident.

Rothenburg ob der Tauber

Take a trip to a thousand years of history! Let Rothenburg ob der Tauber bring the Middle Ages and the Renaissance to life. Immerse yourself in medieval life. Take a trip to a thousand years of history that seems to pass in a little moment! Let Rothenburg bring the Middle Ages and the Renaissance to life before your eyes.

Rothenburg ob der Tauber

Baumeisterhaus, Rotenburg

The work and dwelling-house of the stonemason Leonhard Weidmann, is located in the Oberen Schmiedgasse, just below the market square, and is probably one of the most beautiful patrician houses in Rothenburg with its Renaissance facade and the magnificent inner courtyard (1596).

Das Baumeisterhaus

Colmberg Castle

Documentation of Burg Colmberg reaches back to the first millennium. Little is known about the castle until 1318 when the property was sold to Duke Frederic IV of Nuremberg. The castle belonged to the Hohenzollern family for 500 years. By the 19th century, the castle had become the headquarters of the kingdom of Bavaria, and from 1927-1964 the last imperial consul of Japan owned the castle. The Unbehauen family acquired the castle in 1964 and transformed it into a hotel.

Burg Colmberg

Ansbach Residence

Ansbach Residence evolved from a medieval complex. Its Gothic Hall, a feature of the original building, today houses the important collection »Ansbach faience Adolf Bayer«. The Residence was rebuilt in its present form by Gabriel di Gabrieli and Karl Friedrich von Zocha in the 18th century. The early Rococo interior was created by Leopold Retti. Further highlights are the fresco on the Banqueting Hall ceiling by Carlo Carlone, the Art Gallery with Rococo paintings and works from the former Margrave's Gallery (Branch of the Bavarian State Galleries) and the collection of Meißen porcelain in the Mirror Cabinet.

Ansbach Residence

Altmühlsee

The Altmühlsee in the Weißenburg-Gunzenhausen district was the first reservoir in the Franconian Lake District to become a coveted leisure and holiday destination in Bavaria within only two decades. The protected area of the Vogelinsel consists of ecologically high-quality and sensitive areas: the open sea area, shallow water areas, reed areas, moistened meadows and bushes form the habitat for an unusually wide variety of plants and animals.

Altmühlsee

"Obere Veste" Treuchtlingen

The castle Treuchtlingen, also called "Obere Veste", is a castle ruin above the town Treuchtlingen in the district Weißenburg-Gunzenhausen in Mittelfranken (Bavaria). The expanded defense system was renovated and partly reconstructed by the "Fördergemeinschaft Burg Treuchtlinen e.V" from 1975 onwards.

"Obere Veste" Treuchtlingen

Eichstätt

Eichstätt spreads like a treasure chest on the meanders of the Altmühl.

The treasures of thousands of years flash in it: fossil witnesses of primeval times like the primitive bird Archeopteryx, holy bones, mighty prince bishops with a passion for flowering gardens, the works of art of baroque master builders or the award-winning inventiveness of modern architecure.

Eichstätt

Falkenhof Rosenburg

The Falkenhof on the Rosenburg, once the seat of the Burggrafen of Riedenburg, is today widely known for its birds of prey, where hawks, eagles, vultures and other greaves in simulated hunting flights offer a breathtaking spectacle.

Falkenhof

Kelheim

Catch a glimpse of medieval city gates and whimsical renaissance façades on a walking tour of Kelheim’s historical centre; high above the city, Liberation Hall, built on behalf of King Ludwig I of Bavaria, awaits visitors. The city’s museums divulge further facets of its history.

Kelheim

Cathedral St. Peter Regensburg

Built in the 1300s on the site of earlier cathedrals, Regensburg Cathedral (Dom St. Peter) is the finest Gothic building in Bavaria. Its harmonious exterior, alive with interesting medieval sculptures, has recently been fully cleaned. Inside are even more sculptures along with an extensive collection of medieval stained glass.

Cathedral St. Peter Regensburg

Stone Bridge, Regensburg

A Wonder of the World: The Stone Bridge. The people of Regensburg were obviously brilliant bridge-builders way back in the 12th century. The “Bruckmandl” however, the little statue on the bridge, didn’t take up his breezy position there till the middle of the 16th century. At the far end of the bridge, you will fi nd a peaceful idyll in Stadtamhof’s maze of streets and alleys.

Stone Bridge, Regensburg