WORLD-CLASS BICYCLE TOURS

SELF-GUIDED BICYCLE TOUR GERMANY

Germany's Romantic Road

The Northern Route

 

From Wurzburg to Donauworth

 

Wine taverns, beer gardens, fortresses, a meteorite crater, and thousand year old villages all along the Main river and its Tauber Valley. It's no wonder they call it "The Romantic Road".

 

The northern section of the Romantic Road takes you through a rural countryside and small villages along the Main river. The Tauber Valley is renowned for its natural beauty, its castles and fortresses and beautiful vineyards. It is often difficult to choose between its fine wines and beers that you will encounter all along the route. Stop at the wineries for a tasting, spend some evenings in the beer gardens and enjoy the local scene and friendly people. History awaits all along the way.

 

Tour Profile: Distance - approx 266km/165mi

 

Highlights: :

• The fortress of Marienburg

• Tauber valley along the Main River

• Tauberbischofsheim with its great castle

• The fortress of Weikersheim

• Schiilingsfurst with its impressive baroque castle

• Zumhaus bicycle museum

• The crater of a meteorite of 1200 meters diameter, which left a crater 25 km/15mi in diameter 15 million years ago

 

Click to See:  Tour Price - Departure Days - What's Included - Reserve this tour

 

 

Day 1 - Wurzburg

Starting point of your journey is the Frankish residence town Wurzburg. With its splendid buildings, the residence and the fortress Marienburg, the town became world-famous. There were great artists acting: Balthasar Neumann, Tilman Riemenschneider and Tiepolo. Enjoy the charm of this town that is located among vineyards at the Main-riverside, and experience the romantic wine taverns. Your overnight stay is in Wurzburg.

 

Day 2 - Wurzburg - Wertheim, approx. 40 km/25mi

You leave Wurzburg on a path through the forest and the Steinbach valley. You cycle through small villages and follow the Aalbach. Near Bettingen you finally reach the Main. Worth seeing is the Gothic fortress-church with the Saint Mary's altar at Dertingen. Now there are only few kilometres left till Wertheim. That small town between Spessart and Odenwald is located picturesquely at the estuary of the Tauber into the Main. The beautiful castle ruin made of striking red sandstone is enthroned high above the old city. In the evening, enjoy the romantic atmosphere of this town. Overnight stay is in Wertheim.

 

Day 3 - Wertheim - Bad Mergentheim, approx 49 km/3Omi

Today you leave the Main and cycle further on through the Tauber valley. You can enjoy both: pure nature and art-historical witnesses of a thousand year-old history. As for instance Balthasar Neumann became the artist of bridge-building along the Tauber valley. In many bends the river flows first in direction to Gamburg. Soon you arrive at Tauberbischofsheim with its great castle. This town has an interesting history that you can explore many buildings and monuments. From now on you follow the Romantic road to Bad Mergentheim, your overnight village.

 

Day 4 - Bad Mergentheim - Rothenburg ob der Tauber, approx 53 km/33 mi

First of all a visit of the lively and friendly health resort Bad Mergentheim. The renaissance market square is surrounded by splendid buildings. Near to it is the castle with a museum. Soon after leaving Bad Mergentheim you can visit the water fortress of Weikersheim with its park in rococo-style. At Creglingen you should visit the well-known Saint Mary's altar of Tilmann Riemenschneider. Finally there's the highlight of your journey, Rothenburg. Stroll around in this world famous medieval town that is surrounded by a protective wall with seven doors. Shortly before midnight, you can make a trip through the town with the night watchman. This town attracts many visitors from all over the world, as it is an epitome of the German romanticism style. Discover the old town and the Saint Jacob's church with its famous wooden altar made by Tilman Riemenschneider. The flair of this town is very romantic in the evening. Overnight stay is in Rothenburg.

 

Day 5 - Rothenburg ob der Tauber - Dinkelsbiihl, approx 59 km/37 mi

The first destination of your journey is Schillingsfurst with an impressive baroque castle. Before you get there, there is a small ascent to cover. Biking through Zumhaus with its bicycle museum and Feuchtwangen you reach your today's destination, Dinkelsbihl. This town lies at the idyllic Wornitz valley. There's a beautiful market place and traditional restaurants to visit. Something special at Dinkelsbiihl is the night watchman, who will probably talk about the city.

 

Day 6 - Dinkelsbiihl - Nordlingen, approx. 39 km/24mi

Today you cycle through a region of special geographical interest, the Nordlinger Ries. 15 million years ago there was the impact of a meteorite of 1200 meters diameter, which left a crater of 20 to 25 kilometres diameter. The destination of this stage is Nordlingen that has Germany's only fully conserved town wall to walk on. You can enjoy the view from the 90 meters high bell tower of Saint George's church. For those who are geologically interested there's the crater museum to visit. Overnight stay is at Nordlingen.

 

Day 7 - Nordlingen - Donauworth/Rain, approx. 3Q/40 krn/19/25mi

You leave behind the Ries region and reach the beautiful Wornitz valley. You pass Marburg whose old fortress lies high above the valley. Then you arrive in Dunauworth situated at the mouth of the Wornitz into the Danube. Essential part of the town is the splendid imperial street (Reichsstrasse) with impressing buildings side by side. Another special thing of this town is the Kathe-Kruse-puppet-museum. Overnight stay is in Donauworth or in Rain am Lech.

 

 

Day 8 - Individual departure

Individual departure or extension of stay....

 

Overnight Itinerary : Wiirzburg - Wertheim - Bad Mergentheim - Rothenburg ob der Tauber - Dinkelsbiihl -Nordlingen - Donauworth/Rain

 

SELF-GUIDED INN TOUR

 

Tour #GEB-32041    8 DAYS - $950

 

Category B middle class hotels and inns

 

Single supplement - $170

 

DEPARTURES: - Daily from April 12 to September 14

 

Bicycle Rental - $90

 

Bicycles:  21-/24 speed bike with free wheel - equipment: pannier bag                      Return to Top

 

Accommodation: Category B middle class hotels and inns with bath shower and toilet in the room

 

Additional nights

Wiirzburg - Category B - $95 per person per night       Single Supp $50                              

Donauwdrth/Rain - Category B - $100 per person per night   -   Single Supp $55

 

SERVICES AND EQUIPMENT PROVIDED:

• Overnights with breakfast in rooms in the booked category

• Rooms with bath/shower and toilet

• Luggage transport from hotel to hotel -No limit on number of luggage pieces

• Detailed travel documents and maps

• Service hotline

 

EXCLUSIONS: The insurances, the transfers from and to the airport, the drinks, the lunches, the dinners, items of a personal nature such as phone calls, laundry or anything not specifically mentioned as included, admission fees; ferries; insurance; tips and personal expenditures.

 

DOSSIER:  On the first day of the tour you will be given maps, road book, fact sheets and tourist information.

 

IN CASE OF BREAKDOWN: - We do not intervene for flat tires. However, should any breakdown occur that prevents the completion of the days journey we will make repairs on the road. A phone number will be provided. All other types of necessary repairs that do not make cycling impossible will be repaired at the hotel each night.