ROMANTIC PATHWAY: No citizen in the Middle Ages would have imagined that this road would become one of the most important holiday pathways in the future. The old trade route retained its historic image and its romantic atmosphere throughout the ages. Sights include the episcopal and royal residence plus fairy tale Bavarian castles which provide a frame for a relaxing bike tour.
The Romantic Road in 2 stages
Self-Guided Tours of 8 Days / 7 Nights & 6 Days / 5 Nights
Germany offers a section of the Via Claudia Augusta I and the Romantic Road in a continuous journey of two stages.
VIA CLAUDIA AUGUSTA I: Almost 2000 years ago this road was built by the Romans, the only imperial state pathway across the Alps to the Po River in Italy. Carts trundled past inns, settlements and graves, which enrich the landscape today as monuments of the past. In some parts, the original road is still visible.
This entire journey can be biked in two stages: WÜRZBURG TO DONAUWÖRTH and DONAUWÖRTH TO FUSSEN.
Terrain / GradeEasy to moderate, with some easy stretches. Flat to rolling terrain, with several short climbs on a daily basis. Much of the ride is on bicycle paths. 1st Stage - WÜRZBURG TO DONAUWÖRTH 8 Days / 7 Nights 288kmSelf-Guided 8 Days / 7 Nights - 262kmDay 1: Arrive Würzburg, located amongst vineyards with splendid buildings and the fortress of Marienburg. Day 2 Würzburg – Wertheim (45 km): You leave Würzburg on a path through a forest and along the Steinbach valley, and through small villages on the Aalbach River. Arrive Wertheim whose beautiful red sandstone castle ruin sits high above the town. Day 3 Wertheim - Bad Mergentheim, approx. 50 km: Bike on through the Tauber Valley, dotted with historic monuments. Stop at Tauberbischofsheim to see its’ great castle and fine buildings. Follow the Romantic Road to Bad Mergentheim. Day 4 Bad Mergentheim - Rothenburg ob der Tauber (55 km): Bad Mergentheim has a pretty Renaissance market place and castle with a museum. At Creglingen visit Saint Mary’s altar of Tilmann Riemenschneider. Finally reach the highlight of your journey, Rothenburg, a Gothic town that is surrounded by fortress walls with seven doors. Day 5 Rothenburg ob der Tauber – Dinkelsbühl (60 km): Cycle to the Baroque castle at Schillingsfürst. Continue through Zumhaus with its bicycle museum and Feuchtwangen to reach pretty Dinkelsbühl, which lies in the idyllic Wörnitz Valley. Day 6 Dinkelsbühl – Nördlingen (40 km): Cycle to Nördlinger Ries which was created 15 million years ago by the impact of a meteorite. Nördlingen is Germany’s only fully preserved walled town where you can walk atop the wall. Day 7 Nördlingen - Donauwörth/Rain (40 – 63 km):: Continue biking through the beautiful Wörnitz Valley, passing Harburg, an old cragtop fortress. Reach Donauwörth where the Wörnitz flows into the Danube. Wander the splendid imperial streets with impressive buildings. Of special interest is the Käthe-Kruse-puppet-museum. Day 8: Tour ends in Donauwörth after breakfast, or continue to Fussen (Stage 2). Individual departure. Terrain / GradeEasy to moderate, with some easy stretches. Flat to rolling terrain, with several short climbs on a daily basis. Much of the ride is on bicycle paths. 2nd Stage - DONAUWÖRTH TO FUSSEN 6 days/5 nights 185 kmDay 1 Donauwörth or Rain: Arrival day in Donauwörth/Rain. Day 2 Donauwörth/Rain - Augsburg, approx. 50 km: Enroute to Augsburg, founded by the Romans and Germany’s 3rd largest city, stop at the Baroque church at Biberbach and the memorial stone of the Via Claudia Augusta. Entrance to the Baroque Schaezlerpalais is included at Augsburg. Day 3 Augsburg - Landsberg am Lech, approx. 50 km: Cycle to Konigsbrunn which has an interesting archaeological museum then continue to charming Landsberg am Lech. Day 4 Landsberg am Lech - Schongau, approx. 35 km: Flat cycling to Pfaffenwinkel known for its religious buildings and history. Extend your day’s ride to Schongau a former Bavarian border fortress with fortified passages on the town wall that can still be accessed. Day 5 Schongau - Füssen, approx. 50 km: Two options today: the Church of Wies (1745) set in a gorgeous alpine valley or a detour to King Ludwig’s fairytale castles of Neuschwanstein and Hohenschwangau. Fussen is surrounded by magnificent alpine peaks and blue-green mountain lakes. Day 6 Fussen: Arrangements end after breakfast.
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