Thuringian Highlights: Eisenach - Altenburg

Make sure to arrive on time in the historical Eisenach, city of the Wartburg. You will not regret it! A great number of famous characters are still associated with this place: Johann Sebastian Bach, the holy Elisabeth or Martin Luther lived here, many museums are dedicated to them today.

Following the course of the Hörsel River, today's stage takes you mainly along small side roads through the idyllic Thuringian Basin. Wide fields accompany your journey until you reach the impressively preserved Art Nouveau complex of the “Boxberg Racecourse” with its popular restaurant at lunchtime. From here, it is only a short distance to the royal seat of Gotha. In the afternoon, there is plenty of time to visit the magnificent Friedenstein Castle with its unique Ekhof Theater and stroll through the picturesque alleys around the beautiful main market square.

In the morning, you will reach Wechmar, an idyllic village that was named “Thuringia's most beautiful village” in 2003 and exudes cultural history with its historic Bach family home – now a lovingly designed museum. Soon, an impressive panorama opens up along the way: the three striking castles of Wachsenburg, Mühlburg, and Burg Gleichen, collectively known as the “Three Gleichen.” Just a few steps further, one of Thuringia's oldest and most traditional restaurants invites you to take a delightful break. In the afternoon, follow the gentle course of the Gera River and roll through magnificent parks directly into the heart of the old trading and cultural city of Erfurt. Here, medieval flair and imposing buildings await you: the mighty cathedral and Severikirche church tower over the city, while the unique Krämerbrücke bridge, lined with houses, shines as a symbol of this fascinating city's history.

After a pleasantly short stage, you will reach the cultural and classical city of Weimar. Here you can follow in the footsteps of Goethe and Schiller, visit the magnificent royal palace or the inspiring Bauhaus Museum, linger in the traditional National Theater, or simply relax in the green park on the Ilm River. One thing is certain: you will definitely not get bored in Weimar!

While cultural highlights have been the focus of this varied cycling tour so far, today you can also enjoy some real scenic delights: first thing in the morning, you will cycle out of Weimar on the idyllic Ilm Cycle Route, master the climb to Großschwabhausen, and then roll comfortably downhill on a beautiful forest path to the university town of Jena. Here, the Zeiss Planetarium, the Optical Museum, and the Schott Glass Museum have shaped the city's special reputation, which became a scene of European history through the Battle of Jena and Auerstedt in 1806.

After breakfast at the hotel in Jena, follow the well-developed Saale Cycle Route and cycle along newly constructed cycle paths in the narrow Roda Valley, bordered by red rock faces, to the cozy town of Stadtroda. Today you will understand why Thuringia is also called “the green heart of Germany,” as you cycle for many kilometers on beautiful routes, first through the densely wooded Zeitzgrund and then along the Rauda through the beautiful Mühltal valley with its many restaurants. As if that weren't enough variety on the cycle route, in the afternoon you continue along a former railway line and then follow the well-developed White Elster Cycle Route via Bad Köstritz with its famous black beer brewery to Gera.

A new companion offers pure variety on your morning route today. You cycle through the area of the 2007 Federal Horticultural Show from Gera to Ronneburg, where you can see for yourself how this former uranium ore open-cast mining area of Wismut GmbH has been ecologically restored and revitalized and developed into a popular excursion destination with many attractions. The last stage then continues on small roads and separate paths, first to the “button town” of Schmölln and then along the Sprotte and Pleiße rivers to the skat town of Altenburg with its towering, spacious castle complex and playing card museum. A leisurely stroll through this former royal seat, which is well worth seeing, rounds off your cycling tour along the “Thuringian chain of towns.”

With many impressions in your luggage, you will begin your journey home today and can also take advantage of our convenient return transfer service to Eisenach.