German-Danish pilgrimage route

In the 19th century, the 245 kilometre long "Oksevejen" was considered the central land route between northern Germany and Denmark, but has probably been the main connection between central and northern Europe since the Bronze Age. Pilgrims, craftsmen, merchants and farmers with their oxen used it, as did rulers with their armies.
The flat to slightly hilly cycle route, which is signposted throughout and mostly runs along tarmac cycle paths and low-traffic side roads, has been in existence since 1998. Between Uetersen and Rendsburg, long-distance cyclists can even choose between an eastern and a western variant. You cycle leisurely through vast moorland and marshland, through forests and typical North German meadows and heathland, past lakes and along rivers.
And as a change of scenery, you cycle through attractive towns such as Neumünster and Rendsburg. Cycle travellers should plan around four to six days for the German Ox Trail. And if you still haven't had enough, you can cycle on to Viborg in Denmark on the Ochsenweg or Heerweg (Haervej).

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

West variant

East variant

Arrival
The Ochsenweg starts in Wedel near Hamburg, easily accessible by train from all over Germany. Along the way, Elmshorn, Itzehoe, Neumünster, Rendsburg, Schleswig and Flensburg have railway connections. From Viborg back to Hamburg by IC train via Aarhus in around six hours.

Organised trips
Visit Viborg organises one-week package tours on the Danish Ox Trail, www.visitviborg.de

Refreshment tip
The Bov Kro in Padborg has been a royal inn since 1566. The history of Bov Kro is also the history of the old road through Jutland from Viborg to Schleswig. Traditional Danish, but also modern Nordic cuisine is served.

Tour combinations
The Ox Trail can be combined with the Elbe Cycle Trail, North Sea Coastal Cycle Trail, Eider-Treene-Sorge cycle path as well as with the Kiel Canal Route and the Grenzland Route.

Worth seeing
■ Rendsburg railway bridge and transporter bridge
■ Schleswig-Holstein State Museums in Gottorf Castle
■ Flensburg museum shipyard
■ Vejen Art Museum
■ Old trading house Bindeballe Købmandsgård
■ Old town centre of Viborg

Overnight stay
Hotel Strandhalle in Schleswig, www.hotel-strandhalle.de
Hotel 1690 Rendsburg, hotel-1690.com
Canal Café in Osterrönfeld, kanal-cafe.de
Parkhotel Rosarium in Uetersen, www.parkhotel-rosarium.de
Best Western Golf Hotel in Viborg, www.golfhotelviborg.dk
Further accommodation tips at www.bettundbike.de and www.haervej.de

Literature / Maps
Bikeline cycle tour book "Heerweg - Ochsenweg. From Viborg to Hamburg" 160 pages, 1:75,000
BVA Spiralo/cycling map "Ox Trail", 1:75,000
Interactive map for the Danish Ox Trail: www.haervej.dk

More info
www.sh-tourismus.de/aktivitaet/mit-dem-rad/ochsenweg;
www.haervej.de/de/haervej/der-ochsenweg-haervejen

The tour planner "Pilgrim routes for cyclists" with the Ochsenweg and other pilgrim routes for cyclists was published in MYBIKE issue 3/2018.
You can view the output in the MYBIKE app (iTunes and Google Play) or in the DK-Shop order.