The low mountain range is part of the Weser Uplands in north-west Germany (North Rhine-Westphalia). Its narrow ridge runs diagonally between the cities of Osnabrück in the north and Paderborn in the south. The small Eggegebirge mountain range follows directly behind. The city of Bielefeld lies on a prominent notch in the centre of the ridge. The highest mountain is the Barnacken at 446 metres. Partly disputed due to its location on the border with the Eggegebirge. The Teuto is known throughout the country for the Hermann Monument, which commemorates the infamous battle between the Germanic tribes and Romans in the ninth year AD. The monument depicts the Cheruscan prince Arminius and stands on the 386 metre high Grotenburg near Detmold. Interesting for bikers: The Hermannsweg is also dedicated to this history. The long-distance hiking trail, marked with an H, runs along the entire length of the ridge of the Teutoburg Forest. At 156 kilometres long, it is a highly recommended two-day bike tour. However, almost all other tours also include sections of the Hermannsweg. If there are a lot of hikers, you can switch to parallel trails.
You can find the complete area guide with these tours and the GPS data in the download area below:
- Tour 1: Hermann and back (62.3 km | 1170 m elevation gain | 4:00 h)
- Tour 2: Trails Bielefeld-Ost (21.3 km | 546 m elevation gain | 2 h)
- Tour 3: Trails Bielefeld-West (33.3 km | 900 m elevation gain | 3:15 h)
INFO TEUTOBURG FOREST
Bike shops
- Radhouse, Ehlentruper Weg 77, Tel. 0521/44818539, www.radhouse.de
As a former professional team mechanic, Maarten centres every eight out of the rim.
Accommodation
In the medium-sized city of Bielefeld you will find accommodation in every category. Bike tips:
- Mercure Hotel, Am Johannisberg 5, tel. 0521/92380, www.accorhotels.com, panoramic location above the old town, directly on the Hermannsweg. Ideal starting point for tours.
- Youth Hostel Bielefeld, Hermann-Kleinewächter-Str. 1, Tel. 0521/522050, www.jugendherberge.de, stay overnight in a former bicycle factory. The modern house is Bed&Bike-certified (washing facilities, etc.).
General information
Tourist information centre in the new town hall, Niederwall 23, 33602 Bielefeld, Tel. 0521/516999, www.bielefeld.de
SCENE SPECIALS
Biker get-togethers
If you're visiting Bielefeld, you can get on the back wheels of the locals at various biker meet-ups. There's no better and smoother way to enjoy the hidden trails! Dates: Tuesdays 6 pm at the Schöne Aussicht pub (Schubertstraße 11, near Sparrenburg) and Sundays 10.30 am at the Eiserner Anton pub (Osningstraße 281), both meetings are sporty and CC-orientated. Casual enduro meeting: Saturdays 11 a.m. at the Kunsthalle.
Freeride and downhill
A small track is planned on the so-called Monte Scherbelino on Brückenstraße (Bielefeld-Ost). A practice course for bikers is to be built there in the near future, planned by the Downhill Mountainbike Bielefeld initiative.
If you want to cover more metres in altitude in one go, you have to drive a few kilometres to Detmold. A 750 metre long downhill course was recently officially opened there at the Grotenburg (Hermannsdenkmal). Info: www.bikesportlippe.de
Skatepark
In the centre of Bielefeld, on Kesselbrink, BMXers will find the largest inner-city skate park in Germany. In addition to a fat halfpipe, there is a street course with wallride, tables, quarterpipe and rails.
Food and drink
- Milestones: the institution in the east of Bielefeld! Everything from students to managers meet in the café's backyard beer garden. There is always delicious, seasonal food on the daily menu. There's also a music programme. The Sljivovica parties are notorious. August-Bebel-Str. 94, tel. 0521/178954, www.cafe-milestones.de
- Coffee mile: that's what the locals call the alleyways around the Alter Markt. Here, one café follows the next, one pub after another. The highlights: M Kaffee (coffee shop & snacks, delicious homemade cakes), www.mkaffee.de), Giovanni L. (Gelato de Luxe plus Italian coffee and snacks, www.giovannil.com), Stahlberg (delicious food and watching and being watched on the side), www.stahlberg-alter-markt.de
- L'Osteria: Huge, delicious pizzas are waiting to be devoured by hungry bikers at the Kunsthallenpark. Obernstraße 53-55, Tel. 0521/97796270, www.losteria.de
- Evening market: You can party under the cosy plane trees on Klosterplatz every Thursday evening with live music. And afterwards, head to Zwanzig Dreizehn with its well-stocked bar. Tel. 0521/45364244, www.zwanzigdreizehn-bielefeld.de
- Finca & Bar Celona: breakfast and more in the former castle courtyard. The huge terrace gives you a Mediterranean feeling. The best buffets in town! Schlosshofstr. 73a, www.celona.de
- Siegfriedplatz: There's always something going on at "Siggi", the number one student meeting place. You can get a beer from the Supertram or the kiosk and make yourself comfortable on the square. Or in one of the pubs around it. For example in the Heinrich sein Enkel wine bar, which also serves French-influenced snacks. Tel. 0521/89724499, www.heinrichseinenkel.de
Music: There are plenty of clubs on offer! No wonder, given the density of students in the city. Three tips to get you started: Movie (alternative club with rocking sounds and social prices), Am Bahnhof 6, www.movie-bielefeld.deRinglokschuppen (party, disco and live music). Stadtheiderstr. 11, www.ringlokschuppen.comForum (mainly live music from the stage). Meller Str. 2, www.forum-bielefeld.com
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