1. in the forest and on the heath: the heath bike tour from Gunzenhausen
The beautiful, not too difficult 40-kilometre cycle tour starts in Gunzenhausen on the edge of the Frankenhöhe, from where cyclists can expect wonderful views over the Franconian countryside. First the Altmühlauen and then the Treuchtlingen-Würzburg railway line lead the way. In Sausenhofen, it is worth stopping at the historic Goldener Adler inn, housed in a well-preserved historic half-timbered house.
2. two lakes and many hills: from Gunzenhausen around the Altmühltal by bike
If you set off from beautiful Gunzenhausen, you can start or end this cycle tour with a detour to the Altmühlsee lake. Otherwise, we cycle southwards into the Altmühltal valley. At Wolfsbronn, there is an opportunity to park the bikes briefly and pay a visit to the "Stone Gully", a natural phenomenon, before the tour continues via Markt Berolzheim. In a district of Treuchtlingen, the route passes the remains of an engineering masterpiece from the Middle Ages: the Fossa Carolina, also known as Karlsgraben, bears witness to Charlemagne's attempt to connect the Main and Danube river systems with a canal.
3. fish and more: almost 200 kilometres on the Franconian Carp Cycle Path
Franconia is the land of carp. No wonder that there are around six different carp cycle paths to cycle here alone - mostly along pond landscapes and rivers through the gently rolling countryside. Traditional carp farming is a defining element of the region, and fresh carp in many different variations can be found on the menu in the inns along the way until April and from September. We have selected the most comprehensive carp cycle tour of almost 200 kilometres, recommended for a beautiful, varied four-day tour. The cycle tour starts in Dinkelsbühl on the Romantic Road.
4. sporty through the low mountain range: on an e-bike in the Jura
This cycle tour has been specially planned for e-bike riders. Of course, any cyclist can tackle the hilly route without motorised assistance, but you will need some strength in your calves and thighs. We get on our bikes in Pleinfeld on the Großer Brombachsee. If you have time, you can visit the local history and brewery museum in the former bailiff's castle or the castle garden at the community centre before the tour. Then the first metres in altitude towards Ellingen await. The Deutschordensschloss castle and the Fürst Carl brewery with its brewery pub are well worth a stop. The route then continues uphill to a high plateau, which offers a surprisingly distant view in good weather.
5. forest, meadows and ponds: the Brunnen-Quellen-Weiher-Weg
There are also many small lakes, ponds and pools between the Großer Brombachsee and the Altmühlsee. Some of these bodies of water are connected by this 40 kilometre long, sporty circular cycle route. A note before the start: the various hilly stretches, even on non-asphalted sections of the route, add up to a few metres in altitude. We get on our bikes in Haundorf and cycle towards Haundorfer Weiher. We then set our sights on the Eichenberger Weiher. After Brombach, which gives its name to the Brombach lakes, we pass the sand ponds in the direction of Geiselsberg. The village of Eichenberg is ideal for a cosy break. As the tour name suggests, there are also many fountains along the route, such as in Brombach, Seitersdorf and Brand as well as the drawing and village fountain in Gräfensteinberg.
6. as a cycle knight on the Tore-Türme-Schlösser cycle path
The name says it all - many castles, medieval town gates and imposing fortified towers await you on the long, hilly one-day or leisurely two-day cycle tour. The circular tour stretches through an agricultural region between the rivers Wieseth, Altmühl and Fränkischer Rezat and connects numerous villages in the area between Ansbach and Gunzenhausen. Between Mörsach and Muhr am See, the route runs along the Altmühlsee lake, crosses the Mönchswald forest and reaches the north of the Franconian Lake District near Windsbach. With Wolframs-Eschenbach and Weidenbach-Triesdorf, the circular cycle route offers two art-historical highlights.
7 The Lakes Tour: Travelling along the Franconian Water Cycle Path
The Franconian Water Cycle Path actually winds its way through Franconia for a whopping 460 kilometres. But it can also be divided into attractive partial tours, such as the Lakes Tour. At 143 kilometres, it is ideal for an extensive weekend trip. On this circular tour, you could also get on the saddle in Roth or Gunzenhausen, for example, but we start at the smallest lake in the Franconian Lake District, Lake Dennenlohe. Incidentally, the Lakes Tour is not just about bathing lakes, but also a lot about German culture and history. For example, you start by travelling to the German brush metropolis of Bechhofen with its museum and shortly afterwards to Wolframs-Eschenbach, the home town of the famous minnesinger Wolfram von Eschenbach, which is well worth a visit. Speaking of the lake circuit: along the way, you will find the Dennenloher See, the Große and Kleine Brombachsee, the Altmühlsee, the Igelsbachsee, the Heidweiher and the Kreuthweiher.
GPS data of the cycle tours in the Franconian Lake District
You can download the GPX tracks for the 7 cycle tours in the Franconian Lake District download here for free
or you can find here in the MYBIKE Collection "Cycling tours in the Franconian Lake District" on komoot.
Information about cycling in the Franconian Lake District
Arrival
Train/bus: The railway stations in Roth, Pleinfeld, Weißenburg, Ellingen and Gunzenhausen are well connected to the long-distance Deutsche Bahn network.
The transport association Verkehrsverbund Großraum Nürnberg (VGN) maintains several leisure (bus) lines and railway lines with bicycle transport in the Franconian Lake District, www.vgn.de
Long-distance cycle paths nearby
- Franconian water cycle path (460 km)
- Danube cycle path (588 km in Germany)
- Altmühltal cycle path (253 km)
- Tauber-Altmühl cycle path (347 km)
- Castle Road Cycle Route (902 km)
Bike hire & bike service
A list of workshops, bike and e-bike hire shops can be found at www.fraenkisches-seenland.de/fahrradservice
Electric pedal e-bike charging stations at www.fraenkisches-seenland.de/stromtreter
Cycling holiday packages
Cycling holiday offers in the Altmühl region and the Franconian Lake District, e.g. at www.radferien.com and www.augustustours.de
Bike-friendly accommodation
- Land-Gut-Hotel Adlerbräu in Gunzenhausen, www.hotel-adlerbraeu.de
- Post-Hotel Arnold in Gunzenhausen, www.posthotel-arnold.de
- The Moarhof in Dittenheim, www.der-moarhof.de
- Hotel Zur Goldenen Krone in Roth, www.zurgoldenenkrone.de
- Gasthof Endres in Allersberg-Göggelsbuch, https://gasthof-endres.de
- Sammeth Bräu inn in Weidenbach, https://sammeth-braeu.de/hotel
- Hotel Schloss Kreuth in Heideck, www.schlosskreuth.de
Further accommodation tips on www.bettundbike.de and www.fraenkisches-seenland.de/radfahren/unterkuenfte
Route planning & maps
- Cycle route planner, tour tips, themed tours etc. at www.fraenkisches-seenland.de/radfahren/
- Brochure "Franconian Lake District - cycle tours with overview map" for one euro at the tourist offices.
- ADFC regional map "Franconian Lake District", 1:50,000
- Free information brochures on the Franconian Water Cycle Route, Tauber-Altmühl Cycle Route and Tore-Türme-Schlösser Cycle Route from the tourist office
Literature
- Emons Verlag "111 places in the Franconian Lake District that you must have seen", 240 pages
- Michael Müller Verlag "Travel Guide Altmühltal - Franconian Lake District", 280 pages
More info
Downloads
GPS data Franconian Lake District (7 tours)
Swimming and biking in Middle Franconia: 7 cycle tours in the Franconian Lake District (PDF with costs)
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Barbara Merz-Weigandt
Editor-in-Chief
