Cycle tour between the Inn and Salzach rivers
The districts of Altötting and Mühldorf am Inn may not have any mountain pastures or Alps, but experts claim that Upper Bavaria is still at its most unspoilt north of Lake Chiemsee between the rivers Inn and Salzach. In any case, the flat to hilly terrain is excellent for cycling, most comprehensively on the Grand Tour, which winds its way through the region on mostly tarmac cycle paths and quiet country roads. Fans of the Pope and pilgrims are particularly well catered for. For example, the Altötting Chapel Square is located on the route. Every year, thousands of pilgrims from all over the world visit the "Black Madonna" in the famous Chapel of Mercy. The town of Marktl is the birthplace of Pope Benedict XVI. His birthplace on the market square is now a small museum. But other cultural highlights also await. The historical architecture typical of the Inn-Salzach region characterises the old town around the town square of Mühldorf am Inn. The longest castle complex in the world, over a kilometre long, can be visited in Burghausen an der Salzach. And there are cosy villages everywhere between the towns.
Journey:
There are direct train connections to Mühldorf am Inn and Burghausen via Munich. Several towns along the Grand Tour also have rail connections. www.bahn.de.
Tour combinations: Inn Cycle Path, Tauern Cycle Path, Alz-Inn Cycle Path, Rottal Cycle Path, Benedikt Path
Accommodation tips:
Pension Rapp in Tittmoning, www.rapphelmut.de
Gasthof Hummel in Marktl am Inn/Stammham, www.gasthof-hummel.de
Hotel Münchner Hof in Altötting, www.muenchnerhof-altoetting.de
Gartenhotel Salzach in Burghausen, www.altstadthotels.net
Turmhotel in Mühldorf, www.turmhotel-muehldorf.de
Worth seeing:
- Altötting pilgrimage site with the Black Madonna in the Chapel of Mercy, www.altoetting.de
- Marktl: birthplace of Pope Benedict XVI with his birthplace and the parish church of St Oswald,
www.marktl.de
- Europe's longest castle in Burghausen, www.burghausen.de
- Old town centre of Mühldorf am Inn, www.muehldorf.de
- Castle and town square of Tittmoning on the Salzach, www.tittmoning.de
Maps and literature:
"Raderlebnis Inn Salzach" 1:75,000, from the tourism association, free to download.
Information: www.inn-salzach.com/de/die-grosse-rundtour/
The complete article was published in Trekkingbike issue 5/2017.
