Two cycle tours through Franconian Switzerland
The tourism organisers warn in advance: "It's true that there are no alpine conditions here in Franconia like in southern Bavaria. However, cyclists should still bring some fitness with them, as the region is a low mountain range with an altitude difference of up to 200 metres."
For experienced trekking bikers, this will stimulate their sporting spirit, not only because you can savour a tasty Franconian beer in rustic surroundings in many places as a reward. Our two 200-kilometre tours offer much more.
The "Prince-Bishops' Tour" follows the traces of the 800-year reign of the Bamberg prince-bishops, including the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Bamberg, Weißenstein Castle in Pommersfelden, Sassanfahrt Castle, the Imperial Palace in Forchheim and Seehof Castle in Memmelsdorf.
While "Casanova's Ride" leads through the region around Bayreuth from the foot of the Fichtelgebirge mountains through the Veldenstein Forest into the romantic valleys of Franconian Switzerland. As the routes meet at Ebermannstadt and Pretzfeld, they can also be combined to form a great eight in the city triangle of Nuremberg, Bayreuth and Bamberg.
Journey:
Bayreuth, Bamberg and Forchheim are easy to reach by train, www.bahn.de
Tour combinations:
Main cycle pathPegnitz valley cycle path, Regnitz cycle pathFranconian-Switzerland Cycle Route, Aisch Valley Cycle Route, D-Route 5, D-Route 11 and Breweries and Beer Cellar Tour
Accommodation tips:
Landgasthof Fischer in Betzenstein-Stierberg, gasthof-pension-fischer.de
Behringer's leisure hotel in Gößweinstein, www.freizeithotel-behringers.de
Hotel-Gasthof Wilde Rose in Bamberg, www.hotel-wilde-rose.de
Hartmann brewery inn in Scheßlitz-Würgau; www.brauerei-hartmann.de
Hotel Heiligenstadter Hof in Heiligenstadt, www.hotel-heiligenstadter-hof.de
Culinary tip:
Franconian beer culture: many brewery pubs along the route invite you to stop for a bite to eat and, in addition to the culinary delights, offer a wealth of information about beer production.
Maps and literature:
Tour portal under www.fraenkische-schweiz.com/de/erleben/aktiv/radfahren-e-biken/
Cycling map "Franconian Switzerland" 1:100,000 for 5.99 euros;
Compass map no. 171 "Southern Franconian Switzerland" 1:50,000 at 9.99 euros.
Information:
Franconian Switzerland Tourist Information Centre, Tel. 09191/861054, www.fraenkische-schweiz.com
The article was published in Trekkingbike issue 5/2016.
