Bavaria: 5 river round trip

Nuremberg - with a history fo a 1000 years: The old free city with its grande emperor castle, famous churches and museums attracts lots of tourists every year. In the old part you will find pretty town houses, proud churches, the castle and the old town's wall, which is a ring of 5 kilometers around the inner part of the city.

You leave the historical Nuremberg and roll along the Ludwig-Danube-Main Canal, a listed building, through beautiful nature to Neumarkt in the Upper Palatinate. A special landmark of the city is the castle ruin Wolfstein, which is enthroned on a mountain ridge. The old town with its striking chuch towers is always worth a visit.

Today, they alternatively drive along "oxbow lakes" of the Altmühl, which captivate above all by their originality. Via Beilngries and Dietfurt you reach the three-castle town of Riedenburg, which lies at the foot of the ruins of Tachenstein, Rabenstein and Rosenburg.

An once in a lifetime nature experience awaits you with the wild and romantic Danube breakthrough near Kelheim, which you can experience by boat (not included). A visit to the Weltenburg Monastery and the oldes monastery brewery in the world should also be planned. Then follow the Danube via Bad Abbach to Regensburg. During a walk over the bumpy cobblestone pavement you can hardly get enough of all the historical buildings.

You leave Regensburg and cycle along the Naab river surrounded by meadows, forests and fields. On both sides of the river, Jura rocks up to 100 metres high tower over the lovely valley. At the castle ruins of Kallmünz a change of river is finally announced: Here the Vils flows into the Naab. Those who are keen on culture should take a break at the Hammerherrenschloss in Theuern before continuing to Amberg.

After a flat section today's stage has some uphill climbing in the game for you. You reach the 1000 year old town Sulzbach-Rosenberg, which was built on impressive rocks far above. After a short break in this town you cylce on through one of the regions with the most forests in Germany, the "Hersbrucker Schweiz". The town of Hersbruck was a center for hop-growing and -trade for over centuries. Look up at the roofs: Some of the old wooden carvings stilll remind you of the hop-growing tradition.

The famous "watergate" shows you the way out of the town Hersbruck and you cylce along the river Pegnitz through its beautiful valley. Castle Henfendfeld will watch over you from the top of a hill along the way. The town of Lauf at the river Pegnitz, the "gate to Franconia" is also worth a visit. Through glorious avenues, lined with many green trees, you cycle into Nuremberg.

After breakfast your beautiful tour ends in the hotel of Nuremberg.

Your cycling tour begins in Regensburg. The exceptionally well-preserved historic old town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and captivates visitors with its impressive architecture, winding alleys, and lively squares. Take advantage of your arrival day to enjoy a leisurely stroll through the city, a walk through the green parks and gardens, or a visit to one of the many museums.

Today you’ll enjoy a pleasantly short cycling stage, leaving you plenty of time in the morning to explore Regensburg’s historic old town at your leisure. Afterward, you’ll leave the UNESCO World Heritage city behind and follow the Naab River through an idyllic landscape of green meadows, dense forests, and wide-open fields. Imposing Jurassic cliffs rise on both sides of the river valley before you reach Kallmünz with its striking castle ruins. In Kallmünz, the Vils River flows into the Naab, bringing you to your next river.

Those who venture up to the Kallmünz castle ruins will be rewarded at the top with a sweeping view of the Naab Valley. Afterward, you’ll say goodbye to the Naab and follow the course of the Vils along a former railroad right-of-way through the idyllic Vils Valley all the way to Amberg. The city’s landmark is the so-called “Stadtbrille” (City Glasses), a water gate structure spanning the Vils River. On sunny days, the two arches of the bridge are reflected in the water, creating the image of a pair of glasses.

Today’s stage is a bit hillier. You’ll cycle through the densely forested Hersbrucker Schweiz before reaching Hersbruck, a town shaped for many centuries by hop cultivation and trade. Even today, the distinctive dormer windows on the restored half-timbered houses serve as a reminder of this tradition. You’ll leave the town through the famous Wassertor and then follow the scenic Pegnitz Valley. In Lauf, you have the option of transferring to the S-Bahn (not included) at the Lauf train station on the left bank of the Pegnitz to conserve energy and gain more time for another visit to Nuremberg. Nuremberg offers many sights: the medieval castle with the Imperial Palace, the Albrecht Dürer House, the impressive Main Market Square, and the Frauenkirche.

Starting in Nuremberg, you’ll first follow the Pegnitz River and then the Ludwig-Danube-Main Canal - a designated historic landmark - in a southeasterly direction. It’s pure natural bliss, and the “Old Canal” seems to blend seamlessly with the surrounding nature here. On the edge of the Franconian Alb, you’ll make pleasant progress along mostly flat paths; alternatively, you can shorten this leg by taking the S-Bahn to Burgthann (not included). Even from a distance, you can see the towers of the old town and the Wolfstein Castle ruins overlooking the town. Passing through Freystadt, you’ll finally reach the Main-Danube Canal, whose riverside path will accompany you all the way to today’s destination, Berching. This picturesque little town captivates visitors with its entirely historic townscape, featuring a fully preserved ring of city walls with 13 towers!

Today, you’ll repeatedly follow the Altmühl’s original oxbow lakes and enjoy the unspoiled river landscape. Passing through Dietfurt and Riedenburg, you’ll reach Essing, where one of the Altmühl Valley’s most famous photo spots awaits you: the two-story bridge tower and the 46-meter-long wooden bridge. From Kelheim, you can take a boat trip through the Danube Gorge to Weltenburg Abbey (not included) - where a leisurely break in the beer garden is especially worthwhile.

Before you set off on your final leg to Regensburg, it’s worth taking a detour up to the Hall of Liberation, which offers a sweeping view of the surrounding area. Afterward, you’ll continue cycling at a leisurely pace along the Danube Cycle Path to Regensburg, where you’ll reach the northernmost point of the Danube. The superbly preserved historic old town of this UNESCO World Heritage city provides a fitting conclusion to your journey.

After breakfast, your wonderful 5-Rivers Tour comes to an end today. Why not book an extension and explore Regensburg and the surrounding area even further?