On the Paradise Route through southern Burgenland

Southern Burgenland is no longer an insider tip among cyclists in Austria and is already one of their favourite destinations. The relatively new 260-kilometre Paradise Route (see page 25) is particularly popular with stage travellers. And as the region is not a flat flounder, but quite hilly and mountainous, the e-bike has long since found its way here.
Despite the many tempting cycle paths, culinary delights and leisure are not to be neglected in southern Burgenland - as the local saying goes: "There's nothing that doesn't take three days." The beautiful cellar districts in Eltendorf, Heiligenbrunn and Moschendorf alone are a must-see and must-experience - ideally including wine tasting and a hearty snack with regional delicacies.

E-bike service

In hilly southern Burgenland, there is a network of more than 20 e-bike hire facilities with the main stations in Oberwart and Neustift/Lafnitz. Guided e-bike tours and cycle holidays are also on offer, www.ebikeparadies.at and www.ebikesuedburgenland.at

Information

South Burgenland Tourism Association Wiener Straße 2
A-7400 Oberwart
Phone 0043/(0)3352/31761-0
www.suedburgenland.info
www.burgenland.info
www.ebikeparadies.at

Maps/Literature

Bikeline cycle tour book "Radregion Burgenland", maps 1:75,000, 160 pages; 40-page brochure at the tourist office Südburgenland

Paradise route, 260 km

A sporty multi-day tour around the whole of southern Burgenland - with attractive stops at stately castles, in idyllic cellar districts and along romantic riverbanks. Designed for e-bikers on six stages

GPS data

You can download the GPX track for this tour download directly via this link or find it in the MYBIKE Collection on komoot

The Paradise Route is the "King's Tour" in southern Burgenland - a sporty and enjoyable cross-section of 260 kilometres through the entire region. The tourist office has a practical 40-page brochure with the route divided into six stages and with overview maps - in a format suitable for the map pocket on the handlebars. The cycle route has also been designed as an e-bike route, including many hire and charging stations as well as package deals for guided or individual cycle tours including luggage transport. A tip for culinary enjoyment are the "Paradiesbetriebe" - an association of winegrowers, farm shops, inns, etc. www.ein-stueck-vom-paradies.at

Attractive stops

Güssing Interesting are the castle, the basilica and the emigration museum
Stadtschlaining Impressive Schlaining Knights' Castle with Peace Museum
Eisenberg/Deutsch-Schützen Wine view platform with a view over the Eisenberg
Bad Tatzmannsdorf Open-air museum and the best chocolates in the country at Spiegel

Wellness tips

After the tour, head to the thermal spa - with 15 pools and 24 saunas. The Avita Resort in Bad Tatzmannsdorf is also home to an excellent restaurant and a bike-friendly hotel. www.avita.at

Tour combinations

Raabtal cycle path, Eurovelo 9, Eurovelo 13, Edelserpentin cycle path B53, Berghäuser cycle path B55, Wildpark cycle path B61, Streuobstwiesen cycle path B63, Uhudler cycle path B73, Thermenradweg cycle path

Wine tips

Historic cellar quarter in Heiligenbrunn with more than a hundred wine cellar houses. www.kellerviertel-heiligenbrunn.at

Overnight stay

Wine residence on the Eisenberg, www.weinresidenz-eisenberg.at

Landhotel Schwabenhof in Heiligenbrunn-Hagensdorf, www.schwabenhof.at

Pension Rosenberg in Jennersdorf, pension-rosenberg.at

Kurpension Weiss in Bad Tatzmannsdorf, www.hotel-weiss.at
Large selection also under www.burgenland.info

Tour 7 Edelserpentin cycle path, 24 km

Following in the footsteps of the green jewellery stone, noble serpentine, the cycle route winds briefly but crisply through the wooded hills north of the spa town of Bad Tatzmannsdorf

E-bike riders can only smile, while motorless riders can easily work up a sweat in the hills between Bad Tatzmannsdorf and Bernstein. The lovely landscape is definitely worth the short, sporty ride. There is also the unique rock museum in the village of Bernstein. In addition to insights into the mining of yesteryear, the museum displays vessels and works of art made from the shimmering green precious serpentine. The artist and founder of the museum, Otto Potsch, is an absolute master of gemstone carving.

Worth seeing

Rock museum in the village of Bernstein The history of mining in the region, a valuable collection of precious serpentine and the serpentine sculptures by the artist Otto Potsch. www.felsenmuseum.at
Mariasdorf parish church The late Gothic sacred building dates back to the 15th century and is known far beyond the borders of Burgenland.
Bad Tatzmannsdorf Open-Air Museum An impressive collection of historic residential and farm buildings from Burgenland from the end of the 18th to the beginning of the 20th century - including a cosy wine tavern. www.freilichtmuseum-badtatzmannsdorf.at

Tour information

Tour combinations Four Seasons Cycle Route B50, Paradise Route, Pink Cycle Route B54
Bike-friendly accommodation Reduce-Hotel in Bad Tatzmannsdorf, www.reduce.at
Information Guest information Bad Tatzmannsdorf, www.bad.tatzmannsdorf.at

Tour 8 Orchard meadow cycle path, 41 km

Beautiful circular route through the hilly landscape around the spa town of Stegersbach - particularly attractive in September when thousands of trees are full of ripe apples

If you start in Stegersbach, you can look forward to relaxing in the warm water of the thermal spa right after the tour. But you won't necessarily need to relax too much, as the 40-kilometre tour is easy to ride, apart from two or three climbs. Especially in the Lafnitz Valley, the bike almost rolls by itself through the lovely meadow landscape. If you are travelling in September, you will find refreshments in the form of juicy, red-cheeked apples along the way. The bathing lake with leisure centre in Rauchwart is a popular place for a break in between.

Worth seeing

Stegersbach thermal spa Refreshment and relaxation in the modern Allegria family spa, www.allegria-resort.com
Wörterberg observation tower Beautiful panoramic view of the Lafnitz Valley and the associated nature reserve
Tschartake Burgauberg Original replica of a border watchtower from the time of the Kuruc uprisings at the beginning of the 18th century - directly on the banks of the Lafnitz river
Moor of Zickental Herb trail with information boards through the moor near Rohr, where the black-brown moor oxen graze

Tour information

Tour combinations Stremtal cycle path B56, Apfelradwanderweg B62, Lahnbach cycle path B73, Lafnitztal cycle path B75
Bike-friendly accommodation Solens Land Guesthouse in Stegersbach, www.solensland.com
Information Stegersbach Golf & Spa Region, www.stegersbach.at

Tour 9 Uhudler cycle path, 39 km

On the way to the palatable wine - a delightful day tour through the hills and Uhudler gardens above the Lafnitz Valley around Königsdorf, Poppendorf and Eltendorf

Uhudeln instead of hudeln - that's the motto! Typically southern Burgenland! So here's a tip: it's best to postpone the Uhudler tasting in a wine tavern to the end of the cycle tour. After all, the picturesque vineyards on the Hochkogel and beyond require a sporting effort, at least on some of the climbs. Otherwise it remains rather leisurely. The route leads from Königsdorf via Zahling and Eltendorf to Heiligenkreuz to the Hungarian border, then back along the Lafnitz upstream.

A must in the region

Uhudler cellar quarter on the Hochkogel Uhudler is considered a regional wine speciality of southern Burgenland, and its cultivation is officially only permitted here. It is characterised by its strong aroma of wild strawberries and blackcurrants. Due to the vines' resistance to fungi and phylloxera, no pesticides need to be used for cultivation - making it a truly natural product. In the cellar district on the Hochkogel near Eltendorf, you can not only have a snack and taste wine in the wine taverns, but also have a look at the different grape varieties from which Uhudler, mostly red but also white and rosé, is made.

Tour Info

Tour combinations Lafnitz Valley Cycle Route B75, Thermal Baths Cycle Route B71, Paradise Route
Bike-friendly accommodation Gasthof Gerlinde Gibiser in Heiligenkreuz im Lafnitzal, www.g-gibiser.at
Information Jennersdorf Tourist Board, www.urlaub-jennersdorf.at