Cycling tour through Franconia

Bamberg's winding squares, narrow alleys and numerous sights will enchant you. Start your cycling tour through Franconia with a tour of the old town. Visit the medieval imperial cathedral, the rose garden and the old town hall.

On your first day of cycling, follow the Regnitz cycle path upstream. Cycle relaxed through the river valley, the Steigerwald on your right and Franconian Switzerland on your left. Passing impressive weirs and large locks, you reach Forchheim. Here you can take a break in the Kellerwald. In what is probably the largest beer garden in the world, you can fortify yourself with a Franconian snack before you roll comfortably back to Erlangen.

You cycle a few kilometres south. Soon you will reach Nuremberg, the largest city in Franconia. Be sure to take a stroll through the old town, which is well worth seeing, before you get back on the saddle. Against the current, on mostly flat paths, you cycle along the Pegnitz. You cycle through green meadows and shady floodplain forests past the Wöhrder See lake and the Pegnitzauen meadows. Another break is worthwhile in the picturesque town of Lauf an der Pegnitz  with its historic old town and imperial castle.

Today you take the Pegnitz valley cycle path under your wheels, which leads you first to Velden, then to Neuhaus an der Pegnitz. The river meanders through a narrow valley here, flanked on the right and left by mountains and steep, jagged rocks. You cycle here largely on country or forest paths, which only adds to the charm of the landscape. On hilly paths you cross the Veldensteiner Forst with its extensive pine and spruce forests before you roll into Pegnitz.

A relaxed cycling day awaits you today on your bike tour through Franconia. On mostly flat paths you will pass meadows and fields, through smaller and larger villages. Your destination is the festival city of Bayreuth. You should take plenty of time to visit this city rich in tradition. Bayreuth has an extensive network of cycle paths. So you can explore the historical and cultural sights comfortably on the saddle. Strengthen yourself in one of the numerous beer gardens and restaurants in the city centre.

The Red and White Main rivers join at Kulmbach. You follow the Main Cycle Route and experience how the river becomes ever more powerful. You cross the Main several times on covered wooden bridges and historic sandstone bridges and cycle idyllically through floodplain forests and meadows. You pass small villages and soon reach the beautiful Burgkunstadt. The small but charming town captivates with its narrowly built half-timbered houses in the centre. Pay a visit to the German Cobbler Museum – it's worth it!

Swing onto the saddle for the last time. Along the Main Cycle Route you cycle past Lichtenfels, the home of basket weavers, and Bad Staffelstein. From a distance you can already see the Banz Monastery and the Basilica of Vierzehnheiligen. Continue past colourful meadows with old fruit trees and through small, picturesque villages and you will soon reach Bamberg. Visit one of the numerous breweries and taste a Schlenkerla – a spicy, aromatic smoked beer that is only made in Bamberg.

Your cycling tour through Franconia is unfortunately already over. If you still haven't seen enough of this beautiful region, we'll be happy to book extra nights in Bamberg for you.