Sea views and wind dominate the first few kilometres along the Baltic Sea coastal cycle path before the route turns into the historical section in the former border area. Here, the cycle tour follows the course of the River Elbe, passing through Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Saxony-Anhalt and Thuringia.
The Green Belt cycle path runs along the former German-German border
The former death strip is now overgrown and has been declared a "Green Belt" nature conservation project. Specifically, this is the area between the so-called Kolonnenweg and the former demarcation line between the Federal Republic of Germany and the GDR, which is between 50 and 200 metres wide. Numerous memorials along the route still bear witness to the division of Germany: watchtowers, observation posts, remains of fences and walls. As the cycle path runs partly on concrete slabs with holes in them, cyclists should make sure their tyres are sufficiently inflated to avoid punctures.
In the Harz, Rhön and Thuringian Forest, cyclists can sometimes run out of breath. With gradients of up to 15 per cent and rapid descents, the route leads through the low mountain ranges. If you want to make the detour to the highest peak in the Harz Mountains, the Brocken, you should leave your panniers in the valley and tackle the additional 900 metres without luggage.
Along the river on the D 11 Germany route
The second section of the journey continues along the river, but unfortunately against the direction of flow. From Hof, the Deutschland-Route D-11 first follows the Saale and then the Main-Danube Canal. In Kinding, you enter the Altmühltal Nature Park. Jura limestone cliffs and juniper heaths characterise the landscape along one of Germany's most popular long-distance cycle routes. From Moosburg, you cycle along the Isar Cycle Path and later the Ammer-Amper Cycle Path through the foothills of the Bavarian Alps to the Allgäu. Füssen is a must-stop for anyone who has not yet visited the royal castles of Hohenschwangau and Neuschwanstein. On the last stage to Lindau, the Lake Constance-Königssee cycle path will challenge your last reserves.
Character
We have planned most of our tour through Germany on well-maintained, tarmac cycle paths. The Harz and Frankenwald low mountain ranges and the foothills of the Alps demand a good level of fitness. Puncture-proof tyres with low air pressure minimise the risk of punctures on the potholed paths along the former border!
Highlights of the Germany cycle tour
Hanseatic City of Lübeck: Holsten Gate, Buddenbrook House, Salt Warehouse. www.luebeck-tourismus.de
Harz/Brocken: Brockenhaus with exhibition. www.nationalpark-brockenhaus.de
Bad Sooden-Allendorf: Schifflersgrund Border Museum. http://grenzmuseum.de
Nuremberg: Imperial Castle, Germanic National Museum, Nazi Party Rally Grounds, Frauenkirche. http://tourismus.nuernberg.de
Munich: Marienplatz, Frauenkirche, BMW World and Museum, Königsplatz, Viktualienmarkt. www.muenchen.de
Füssen: Neuschwanstein and Hohenschwangau royal castles. www.fuessen.de
The article was in the Europe special in Trekkingbike issue 4/2016. You can download the issue in the Trekkingbike app (iTunes and Google Play) or order it in the DK shop.
Barbara Merz-Weigandt
Editor-in-Chief
