Travel report: Info Tour Five Rivers Cycle Route in October 2021

From our employee Benjamin

Nuremberg
Above the roofs of Nuremberg

Arrival in Nuremberg
Like a little child I was looking forward to this bike tour. Now it's "goodbye" Constance and "hello" Nuremberg, because here we start our five rivers bike tour, which will lead us along the five Bavarian rivers Danube, Pegnitz, Altmühl, Naab and the Vils. Before that, we take a quick look at the weather forecast, which gives us a promising outlook for the next few days. Lots of sun and in between a rainy day - toi toi toi! Arriving in Nuremberg on Saturday afternoon, we first check in at the "Hotel Victoria", which is located right next to the famous Handwerkerhof, where you can also enjoy very good, typical Bavarian cuisine! After checking in, we walked through the small streets and looked at the small stores with homemade products. Among other things, a pewter foundry and a beautiful little pottery. I had to buy a lot of cards at the Anemoi paper workshop! Where to go next? Of course to the famous Kaiserburg! Simply impressive every time again to marvel at such mighty buildings from a bygone era. I ask myself every time again "How did they do that back then?". In any case, the whole complex is a perfect occasion for an extended walk. Slowly the sun says goodbye as we stroll through the old town back to the hotel to have dinner next door at the Frauentor and let the day end.

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Nuremberg
Nuremberg
Nuremberg

 

The next day the time has finally come and the bike bags are packed! At 9.00 o'clock we go to the reception to deposit the suitcases and now we strengthen ourselves with a hearty breakfast to cycle the first stage. It goes namely to the beautiful Neumarkt in the Upper Palatinate! After we had briefly studied the city map of Nuremberg on the five rivers bike map, it leads us straight out of Nuremberg and steers us from here, on well-signposted bike paths on the five rivers bike path, which is marked with a sign with white-blue waves and black lettering.

Nuremberg, Neumarkt
Nuremberg, Neumarkt

Now far away from the hustle and bustle of the city, the bike path always leads us along the historic Ludwig-Danube-Main Canal. With its 100 locks, it is an important industrial monument, which was only of logistical importance for a short time. Because after its completion in July 1846, it was rather quickly replaced by the railroad revolution. Today, however, it attracts many (bicycle) hikers, because on its renaturalized banks you can enjoy the fresh air without any worries.
On the way, we make a small detour to Feucht, but we wouldn't necessarily repeat it. Therefore, we quickly return to the canal and continue cycling until we leave the bike path again briefly to look at Thann Castle in Burgthann. In the summer there are many events here and from the castle walls you have a wonderful sweeping view of the Franconian Alb. Afterwards, we recommend a visit to the castle tavern for a short refreshment.

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Burgthann
Burgthann
Burgthann
Burgthann

On we go! We roll back onto the Five Rivers Cycle Path and now ride through to Neumarkt in der Oberpfalz. As we push our bikes through the Untere Tor, one of the town's gates, on Sunday, we notice that the town center is pretty well filled. Juuhuu - open for business! This comes in handy, as I still need to get some gloves. Despite the sunshine, autumn comes with quite cool air during the ride. In Neumarkt we spend the night in the beautiful Hotel Lehmeier, which is located directly in the city center.

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Impressions Five Rivers Bike Tour

Impressions Five Rivers Bike Tour

Impressions Five Rivers Bike Tour

Impressions Five Rivers Bike Tour


From Neumarkt to Riedenburg
The next morning we get back on our bikes. Our destination today is Riedenburg in the beautiful Altmühl Valley. After our last kilometers along the canal, which lead us through the small but very interesting villages of Berching and Beilngries and along the Plankstetten monastery, we now meet the Altmühl for the first time in Dietfurt, which flows into the canal here and accompanies us to Riedenburg. The lovely Altmühl valley enchants us a bit with the deciduous trees colored from light yellow to deep red on the slopes of the Jura rocks that tower above the valley.
Shortly before Riedenburg, the Altmühl-Bob is already signposted. We don't want to miss out on the fun, so we follow these signs. Once there, we climb into the speed bob track, which took us down again at 60 km/h on a wave track with a shot. After the little adrenaline rush, we then roll into the center and drive to our next hotel, the hotel and inn "Zur Post" in the center of Riedenburg. Riedenburg is also called a three-castle town, because two old castle ruins "Tachenstein" and "Rabenstein" as well as the intact Rosenburg castle tower over the roofs of the town. They are all connected by a beautiful, albeit strenuous, hiking trail. But an ascent is rewarded with a great view over the Altmühl valley! Now we first go to the hotel restaurant for evening refreshment, where we end the evening comfortably.

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Impressions Five Rivers Bike Tour
Altmühl
Altmühl

From Riedenburg to Regensburg
The morning after, I want to get back on my bikes quickly, because today I have a very special highlight on the schedule: the Danube breakthrough with the Weltenburg monastery! I cycle along the banks of the Altmühl towards Kelheim. Shortly before you reach Kelheim, the Liberation Hall, perched high on the Michelsberg, is eye-catching. This was built by the Bavarian King Ludwig I from 1842-1863 in memory of the battles won against Napoleon. We leave the Altmühl here and continue through the old town of Kelheim to the Danube harbor. Here we start our boat trip to the Weltenburg monastery and the Danube breakthrough. Quite leisurely (a bit too slow for me) we drive with the ship through the imposing rocks, through which the Danube has made its way during thousands of years.
We looked at this scenery in peace from the panorama deck, despite the drizzle and cold. The ship then docks at the Weltenburg monastery and here you have the opportunity to take a closer look at the Benedictine monastery and the oldest monastery brewery in the world. We decide due to time problems and the weather against it and thus ship shortly thereafter back. Back on the bike, we always cycle left or sometimes right, following the Danube downstream, through to Regensburg. Our destination in Regensburg today is the "Münchner Hof", a really nice 4-star hotel in the heart of the old town. Once there, we treat ourselves to a small glass of wine as a reward for today's stage and then stop at the restaurant "Weltenburger am Dom", where I can finally try an original Bavarian knuckle of pork - very tasty!

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Danube Breakthrough

Weltenburg Monastery


From Regensburg to Amberg
The next morning we decide to do a little sightseeing including a stroll through the small and fine stores in the old town. After we pick up one or the other item, which makes the wallet smaller, we stow our booty in the saddlebags and it goes back up on the bike. First we follow the Danube a little bit and then cross it at Mariaort to cycle from now on always along the banks of the Naab until we reach the small, tranquil Kallmünz. High above the small town there is an old, but impressive castle ruin from the year 1255 and when passing through this small town you immediately have the feeling of being in a time long past. For us, it was actually a secret highlight of this tour, as I had never heard of this place before and its townscape is reminiscent of a fairy tale.

Impressions Five Rivers Bike Tour
Impressions Five Rivers Bike Tour
Impressions Five Rivers Bike Tour

 

Here we leave the Naab again and follow the Vils upstream. It goes through beautiful nature always along the riverbed and it alternates meadow and forest landscape constantly. After this stage, which is also the longest of the whole trip, we roll with our bikes slowly through the 46 meter long Amberg city gates - a water gate construction that spans the Vils.
And already we are standing in the middle of the old town of Amberg, finding our way through the beautiful alleys to our hotel for today. I have been looking forward to this overnight stay for days, because today we will spend the night in the "Knasthotel Fronfeste". The hotel is really an experience, because one sleeps in this former prison from the 17th century in modern furnished, but still original large cells.
Fortunately, we now live in the 21st century and so we are allowed to leave our cell again the next day.

Impressions Five Rivers Bike Tour

From Amberg to Hersbruck
And on we go! - Only unfortunately with bad weather on this day. The weather forecast doesn't give us much hope, so we throw on our rain outfits, put on our gloves and set off. Luckily it is only 45 kilometers today, we think to ourselves. In our travel documents we have already read that there is a thermal spa in our today's stage destination, the small town of Hersbruck - the Fackelmann thermal spa! So we have something to look forward to after fighting through the bad weather. On this stage, to be honest, we also drive straight through to the finish without stopping much. Arrived at the hotel "Schwarzer Adler", we are welcomed by the older lady totally nice and we are first served a piece of cake and a fresh coffee prepared - just the thing after such a rainy day! So after we have eaten our fill, we go to the spa, which is located in the middle of the Pegnitzauen, and relax here for the rest of the day.

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Impressions Five Rivers Bike Tour


From Hersbruck to Nuremberg
Better weather the next morning - Yeah! But unfortunately already the last cycling day on our beautiful journey. We cycle now always along the Pegnitz, early in the morning still in a great mood, because the morning dew still lies over the meadows and the sun comes through slowly. After 14 kilometers we make our first stop and look at the city of Lauf, while we treat ourselves to a coffee. The last kilometers are now on the schedule and we are approaching Nuremberg. Passing the Wöhrder See in the city of Nuremberg, we follow the signs to the old town, because not far from there is our last hotel, the "Prinzregent", directly on the banks of the Pegnitz. Here we quickly park our bikes and saddlebags and sprint to the main train station. Since our today's stage was very short, we still have it early in the day and decide for a day trip to the wonderful Rothenburg ob der Tauber.

Impressions Five Rivers Bike Tour

After the train ride there, we stumbled quite comfortably through the many cobblestone streets and have a close look at the great preserved medieval buildings. After we have also tried an original "Rothenburger Schneeball" in one of the many nice cafes, we let the day end with a cozy glass of wine in the castle garden with breathtaking views and drive back to Nuremberg.

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Rothenburg
Rothenburg
Rothenburg
Rothenburg

Departure from Nuremberg
The next day we see a bit more of Nuremberg until we have to leave around noon. Were we really only on the road for a week? To me it seemed much longer, because on our bike trip we got so many great impressions and were able to get to know many small corners of Germany, which we would probably never have come across otherwise.

One thing is certain for both of us: Next year we will go on another bike trip, that's for sure!

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Rothenburg
Rothenburg

Benjamin brought us many nice pictures from his tour! So here are a few more:

 

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Impressions Five Rivers

Impressions Five Rivers

Impressions Five Rivers

Impressions Five Rivers

Impressions Five Rivers

Impressions Five Rivers
Nuremberg
Nürnberg
Nuremberg
Nuremberg
Nuremberg
Nuremberg
Nuremberg
Nuremberg