The Rhön is also characterised by ancient villages with historic half-timbered houses in the Henneberg and Franconian style. The best way to get a comprehensive picture of this original German low mountain range region is a tour on the Rhön cycle path, 180 varied kilometres from Bad Salzungen in Thuringia to Hammelburg in Bavaria. The ideal complement to this is a detour in Hilders on the Hoch-Rhön cycle path, almost 20 kilometres through the Rhön biosphere reserve.
Character:
The Rhön means beautiful German low mountain range landscape in many areas. Leisurely cycling is possible in the various river valleys. But there are also plenty of sporty climbs in between, which can be really sweat-inducing. The reward: you cycle through the marvellous nature of one of the few German biosphere reserves.
Tour tip: Rhön cycle path, 180 km, 1750 metres in altitude, medium.
Route: The Rhön cycle path leads from Bad Salzungen along the Werra via Phillippsthal to Vacha, then follows the Ulster valley via Geisa, Tann, Hilders, Ehrenberg to the Ulster spring, crosses the Hochrhön road at Schornhecke, continues via Oberelsbach to Bischofsheim, runs from there along the Brendtal cycle path to Bad Neustadt/Saale and follows the course of the Saale via Bad Bocklet, Bad Kissingen to the finish in Hammelburg.
Best time to travel: May to the end of September.
Journey:
The towns of Bad Kissingen, Hammelburg, Elfershausen and Bad Neustadt an der Saale are easy to reach by train. Cycling hotline of the railway on 01805/99 66 33 (14 ct/min. from landlines, max. 42 ct/min. for mobile phones).
Bike service:
Bike hire and workshops can be found in all the larger towns.
E-bike hire and battery charging stations at http://www.rhoen.info
Cycling hotels:
Cyclist-friendly establishments include Gasthof Adler in Bischofsheim http://www.adler-bischofsheim.de
Country inn Zum Hirschen in Ebenhausen-Oerlenbach http://www.hirschen-ebenhausen.de
Hotel in the Krummbach Valley http://www.krummbachtal.com
Further address under http://www.bettundbike.de
Maps/literature:
Fritsch cycling map "Die Rhön" 1:50,000 for 4.99 euros at http://www.rhoen.info to order.
BVA Spirallo "Rhönradweg" cycling map 1:75,000 at 9.95 euros.
Leaflet "Cycle trails in the Rhön" can be ordered free of charge at http://www.naturpark-rhoen.de
Information (general):
Tourismus GmbH Bayerische Rhön, Spörleinstr. 11, 97616 Bad Neustadt an der Saale, Tel. 09771/94670.
Internet:
http://www.naturpark-rhoen.de (general travel information and various cycling tips
