In for a pfennig, in for a deutschmark… That joke no longer works obviously but after having just posted about Lithuania based upon a press release that arrived in my inbox earlier, here’s part of another one that has also just arrived. The German Tourist Office is trying to encourage us to #DiscoverGermanyFromHome and they have suggested a few ways of doing so. I have picked out the two that mention cycling; if you’d like to browse the full list, visit the webpage of Germany.Travel. I’ve also replaced the supplied video with one that I made when I visited the Mosel back in 2019.
The Moselle River: Cycling along vineyards
“The 248km long cycle path next to the Mosel connects many towns along the way from the Roman cities Trier to Koblenz. The journey along the path, which originally starts in France, is ideal for a family weekend, because it combines various outdoor activities, such as exploring old castles, green valleys and even hiking trails along the cycling route. One noteworthy hiking track is the Moselsteig trail, which has been certified as โLeading Quality Trail โ Best of Europeโ, offering a great view over the valleys and the Mosel from another perspective.”
www.germany.travel
Following my visit in 2019 I wrote the following post reflecting on the journey:
Here’s a more conventional video from CyclingEurope.org:
Langeoog: An island in the UNESCO World Natural Heritage Site of the Wadden Sea
“Langeoog is one of the seven inhabited East Frisian Islands in the North Sea. As the small island is car-free, guests are able to reconnect with nature by exploring the 14km long beach or cycling along signposted paths through the dunes. The Wadden Sea is a unique ecosystem and shelters about 10,000 species of flora and fauna. Mudflat hiking tours are a great way for the whole family to find out more about the biodiversity of the island. The landmark of the island is the water tower; you have a stunning view over the island from its platform.“
www.germany.travel
Enjoy the tourย here.
Germany is the most frequently-tagged country on CyclingEurope.org and it’s not difficult to understand why once you’ve visited on a bike. It may not be The Netherlands or Denmark (although in terms of cycling-friendliness it comes close) but it does have such variety! I think I’d be happy living there…
You can browse more German-themed posts by following this link.
My first trans-European trip in 2012 took in the Ahr Valley which runs parallel to the Mosel and just to the North and then I followed the Rhine to its source in Switzerland. My second trip in 2013 followed the Rhine to its confluence with the Neckar which I followed to its source. From there it’s a half day ride to Donaueschingen, the official source of the Danube which I followed as far as Giurgiu in Romania. Germany is a superb place to ride a bike and its river valley routes offer some of the best cycling in the world. Beautiful scenery and quaint towns and villages linked by dedicated off-road cycle routes surfaced to a luxurious degree with either tarmac, tiles or concrete slabs – I think I encountered about a grand total of 15k of gravelled surface and even that was better than most UK cycle routes.
My friends and i were planning a trip along the Mosel last spring but we had to abandon due to Covid. It’s still on the list when we’re allowed out again. Looks stunning. I’d recommend the Elbe and Weser as other German river rides.
My husband & I cycled the Mosel from its source in the Vosges Mts in France to its confluence with the Rhine in Koblenz, Germany in 2017. We also did a side-trip along the Sauer, a tributary of the Mosel. We would highly recommend this trip to anyone – so interesting historically and so beautiful. We would do it again in a heartbeat. We flew to Hamburg in early Sept and took a train to the small village of Fellering where we cycled the only hilly part of our entire 6 week trip – 10 km up the Col de Bussang to the sources of the Mosel. From there is was literally downhill or flat the rest of the trip as we followed the extremely well-developed cycle paths along the river. We did not book any accommodation in advance and had no problems finding B&Bs or small hotels the same day we would arrive at our destination for that day. I will just add that we were in our mid-sixties at the time, reasonably fit and active at home but did no particular cycle training beforehand other that occasional bike rides. We cycle on average about 40 – 50 Km a day on our trips and like to arrive at a destination for the night by mid-afternoon which gives us plenty of time to find accommodation and explore the town or village. This was our 6th lengthy self-guided trip with our own bikes in Europe. Covid has interrupted our plans for more cycle trips but we are hoping to do more before we get too aged! Itโs our favourite way to travel. You can read my lengthy blog on this trip at: https://bikeiveurope.travellerspoint.com/2/