Cycle pilgrimage in the footsteps of the Reformation

Along the most important places in the history of the Reformation, the route leads 800 kilometres in a large loop through Germany, from Augsburg via Nuremberg, Bamberg, Coburg, Schmalkalden, Rennsteig, Wartburg, Eisenach, Erfurt, Stotternheim, Eisleben, Halle and Torgau to Wittenberg.
Although the cycle pilgrimage route is not specifically signposted, it mostly follows existing cycle routes such as the Romantic Road, the Via Claudia Augusta and the Elbe Cycle Route. It is quite easy to cycle on, even if it is sometimes hilly.
If you want to tackle the entire route from Augsburg to Wittenberg, you should plan around 12 to 14 daily stages. In addition to the many cultural towns and half-timbered villages, the pilgrimage route leads through charming landscapes such as the Franconian Lake District, Franconian Switzerland, the Steigerwald, the Main Valley and the Thuringian Forest with the Rennsteig.

The GPX track for retracing the Luther Trail is available free of charge on the MYBIKE tour portal:

Journey
The start, finish and stage locations all have railway connections.

Tour combinations
The Luther Cycle Pilgrimage Route can be combined with the Romantic Road Cycle Route, the Danube Cycle Route, Altmühl cycle pathMain cycle path, Rennsteig cycle path and with the Via Claudia Augusta connect.

Worth seeing
■ Old Town Augsburg
■ Reichsstraße in Donauwörth
■ Bamberg Cathedral and old town centre
■ Half-timbered town of Schmalkalden
■ Wartburg Castle in Eisenach
■ Cathedral and Krämerbrücke bridge in Erfurt
■ Luther's baptistery, birthplace and death house in Eisleben
Castle church in Torgau

Overnight stay
Hotel Goldener Falke in Augsburg, www.goldener-falke.de
Posthotel Traube in Donauwörth, www.posthotel-traube.de
Hotel Alt-Ringlein in Bamberg, www.altringlein.com
Hotel Grünes Tor in Schmalkalden, www.grünes-tor.de
Hotel Kaiserhof in Eisenach, www.kaiserhof-eisenach.de
Hotel Graf von Mansfeld in Eisleben, www.hotel-eisleben.de
Luther Hotel in Wittenberg, www.luther-hotel-wittenberg.de

Literature / Maps
A cultural-historical guide and route description are available to download free of charge at www.ebw-weilheim.de/radpilgerweg

More info
ebw-weilheim.de/radpilgerweg

The tour planner "Pilgrimage routes for cyclists" with the Luther Trail and other pilgrimage routes was published in MYBIKE issue 3/2018. You can download the issue in the MYBIKE app (iTunes and Google Play) or in the DK-Shop order.