The length of the Rhine Cycle Route from the source of the Rhine in the Swiss Alps to the estuary near Rotterdam is around 1233 kilometres. The 200-kilometre section between Mainz and Cologne, which leads through the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Upper Middle Rhine Valley, is particularly beautiful. The route runs almost exclusively on tarmac and paved cycle paths and embankments or on quiet country roads.
The Rhine Cycle Route is signposted with the EuroVelo 15 signpost across all countries. There are virtually no gradients - the route between Mainz and Cologne is ideal terrain for leisure cyclists.
Arrival
Mainz and Cologne are easy to reach by train, information at www.bahn.de. By car from the east via Frankfurt, then via the A3 or A66 to Mainz. From the south, Mainz can be reached via Kaiserslautern and Alzey (A63), for example, and from the north-west via Cologne (A3, A66).
Information
Romantic Rhine Tourism GmbH, An der Königsbach 8, 56075 Koblenz, Tel. 0261/ 9738470
Further information at http://www.rheinradweg.eu and http://www.rheinradweg.net
Accommodation
Hotel Konditorei Café Köppel, Kapuzinerstraße 12, 55411 Bingen, Tel. 06721-14770, http://www.hotel-koeppel.de
Pension Gästehaus "Bei Schinderhannes und Julchen", Seminarstraße 9, 56154 Boppard am Rhein, Tel. 06742/3173, Fax 06742-82451, http://www.schinderhannes-und-julchen.de
Hotel Rhein-Residenz, Rheinufer 1, 53498 Bad Breisig, Tel. 02633/473526, Fax 02633/200704, http://www.rhein-residenz.de
Further addresses of cyclist-friendly accommodation can be found at http://www.bettundbike.de
Worth seeing
A detour on foot: the Rheinsteig trail on the right bank of the Rhine and the RheinBurgenWeg trail on the left bank lead to spectacular views of the Rhine Valley. http://www.rheinsteig.de, http://www.rheinburgenweg.com
You can really relax in the Roman thermal baths in Bad Breisig. For information call 02633/480710, http://www.roemerthermen.de
If you want a change of perspective, switch from bike to boat. Info under http://www.bingen-ruedesheimer.de and http://www.k-d.com
A highlight of the Middle Rhine Valley are its 65 castles, which are well worth seeing. Lists and information at http://www.romantischer-rhein.de/themen/kultur/burgen-schloesser/
Also worth seeing is the monumental Niederwalddenkmal near Rüdesheim, which can be reached by cable car. Info under http://www.niederwalddenkmal.de and http://www.seilbahn-ruedesheim.de
Also accessible by cable car: The Ehrenbreitstein Fortress in Koblenz, http://www.diefestungehrenbreitstein.de
Cologne Cathedral, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, offers great views over the city and the Rhine Valley, http://www.koelner-dom.de
Literature / Maps
Esterbauer Verlag: Rhine Cycle Route Part 3: Middle Rhine Valley - From Mainz to Duisburg, 302 km (Bikeline cycle tour books)
Bruckmann Verlag cycle guide "Rhine Cycle Route - from Mainz to the North Sea estuary", in 15 daily stages, map sections at a scale of 1:75,000.
The complete article was published in Trekkingbike issue 5/2011. You can read the entire issue in the Trekkingbike app (iTunes and Google Play) or order the issue in the DK shop.
You can download the individual articles as PDF files here.
