INFO
The precinct
The Sebalder and Lorenzer Reichswald forests around Nuremberg and the "mountains" of the Franconian Alb offer a huge playground for mountain bikers. Although the differences in altitude are only a few hundred metres, the constant ups and downs can quickly add up to over a thousand metres in altitude. The very dense network of signposted trails allows for ever new combinations. You can be out in the countryside in just a few minutes from the city centre with virtually no traffic, especially in an easterly and southerly direction. Or you can use the train and S-Bahn to start in the towns of Lauf or Hersbruck (20-30 minutes journey time).
You can download the complete travel article "Germany: Nürnberger Land" from BIKE 11/2020 as a PDF in the download area below.
The area guide costs 1.99 euros. Inside you will find the BIKE web code, which will take you to the download of the free GPS data for these tours.
- 1. seven mountains: 44.9 km | 1212 m elevation gain | 4:50 h
- 2 Moritzberg: 56.1 km | 650 m elevation gain | 4:10 h
- 3. hollow rock: 31.7 km | 998 m elevation gain | 3:10 h
Season
Thanks to the large wooded areas, you can also be out and about in the Nuremberg region on hot summer days. Late summer and autumn are perfect, when the sparse beech forests of the Hersbrucker Alb glow in all shades of yellow and red. The relatively mild winters with little snow make it easy to explore the empty hiking trails until November and into December.
Arrival
Nuremberg was already located at the intersection of spice and trade routes (Salt Road to Prague) in the Middle Ages and is now at the junction of several motorways, on the main A9 axis between Berlin and Munich. Bavaria's second largest city is also easy to reach by train, with all major IC and ICE lines passing through Nuremberg Central Station. It takes around four hours to reach the Franconian metropolis from Berlin, while the fastest ICE train from Munich takes just one hour.
Bikepark Schmausenbuck
With great attention to detail, the Nuremberg dirt bikers had created a real gem in the Reichswald forest over the years. Due to the pressure from users caused by the coronavirus, these illegally built but previously tolerated trails have now come under the scrutiny of the forestry authorities and should be completely removed. However, the DIMB IG Nürnberg-Fürth has now intervened and is in talks with the responsible authorities. The aim of the negotiations is a bike park modelled on the Heumödern trails. More information can be found on the Facebook page of the NGB Schmausenbuck Locals.
Scene highlights
Nuremberg's nightlife tends to take place outdoors. Thanks to the universities and the TH as well as global corporations such as Siemens, Adidas and Puma, there is a thoroughly international crowd. Meeting points are spots in the Old Town, such as Café Katz on Hans-Sachs-Platz, the Wanderer on Tiergärtnertorplatz or the Lebemann in the pedestrian zone. Nuremberg's smallest pub is a former public house: the Schnepperschütz on Hallerwiese only has outdoor seating, or you can use the sunbathing lawn. The mighty Imperial Castle and the picturesque Old Town directly below it are magnets for tourists from all over the world - and in winter, of course, the Christkindlesmarkt.
