TMB-Fotoarchiv Steffen Lehmann
The FONTANE.RAD route – ride in the footsteps of writer Theodor Fontane
Bike Touring Collection by Fontane.RAD Tour
17
Tours
41:37 h
425 mi
7,525 ft
The FONTANE.RAD route takes you to majestic castles, regal country estates, pretty historic towns, and typical Markish villages, through beautiful landscapes, and along rivers and lakes. This 300-kilometre (186-mile) cycling route is a wonderful adventure on two wheels. The route takes you on a journey through the magnificent Havelland and Ruppiner Seenland in Brandenburg, revealing the region’s diverse history. You travel back to the 19th century and follow in the footsteps of writer Theodor Fontane who was born in the town of Neuruppin in 1819 who was known for his exploration of the region. This Collection takes you to the places and landscapes in Fontane’s homeland which inspired his most well-known work, ‘Ramblings through Brandenburg’. Neuruppin, Fontane's birthplace and the starting point of his walks, lies at the centre of this route.
In addition to the main route of the FONTANE.RAD, you find two alternative routes in this Collection, as well as seven additional circular day Tours starting from one of the stage destinations. This gives you plenty of options. You can pick out individual stages and spend one weekend in Fontane’s homeland or plan a long getaway. You can easily spend a whole week exploring the main route on two wheels. You can plan overnight stays in the stage destinations.
The FONTANE.RAD route is both beautiful and practical. The stage towns mostly have train stations so you can reach Berlin in no time. You can also find stations en route so you can shorten your trip if need be. This makes it easy to arrive and depart from your adventure and also allows you to stay flexible in case of a change of plan. The same goes for food and accommodation en route. There are plenty of places to stay and refreshment stops, so you don’t have to squeeze lots of supplies into your panniers.
As you ride, you can enjoy the wonderful nature and also learn more about Theodor Fontane and his homeland. You can read up on his life at the information boards en route, which tells you more about his stories of Mark Brandenburg. When you return home, you’ll be able to say, like the great master himself, "I have travelled the Mark and found it richer than I dared to hope for".
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Last updated: December 7, 2021
Tours & Highlights
- 03:0932.2 mi10.2 mph600 ft525 ftExpertExpert bike ride. Good fitness required. Some portions of the Tour may require you to push your bike.
The first stage of the FONTANE.RAD route is the ideal start for your journey of discovery in the footsteps of the great writer. The main characters in the first act are four castles and a love story that Fontane was particularly fond of. Between the cultural highlights of the tour, you can enjoy the…
- 02:4529.2 mi10.6 mph675 ft675 ftIntermediateIntermediate bike ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
The second stage of the FONTANE.RAD tour takes you through mixed forests and the wonderful lake landscape of the Stechlin nature reserve, part of the Stechlin-Ruppiner Land nature park. The highlight of the day is Gut Zernikow, where an imaginative gentleman once ran a very special animal farm and where…
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- 02:4327.4 mi10.1 mph900 ft900 ftExpertExpert bike ride. Good fitness required. Some portions of the Tour may require you to push your bike.
The second stage of the FONTANE.RAD route takes you to the state-approved resort of Rheinsberg, which - if you like - is ideal for a longer stay. So that you can actively organize your time here, we have put together this nice extra round with Rheinsberg as a starting point.
The area around Rheinsberg…
- 02:5130.0 mi10.5 mph725 ft725 ftIntermediateIntermediate bike ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
With this route we show you another beautiful round trip from Rheinsberg. It is perfect for you if - apart from the main route - you want to discover a few unknown beauties of the region. The small town of Lindow (Mark) is such a jewel, as is Köpernitz: Hardly any other place has been so honored in literary…
- 01:4017.7 mi10.7 mph425 ft450 ftIntermediateIntermediate bike ride. Great for any fitness level. Some portions of the Tour may be unpaved and difficult to ride.
The third stage of the FONTANE.RAD route is a very special one: Today's stage destination Neuruppin is the district town of the Ostprignitz-Ruppin district - but above all it is the birthplace of Theodor Fontane, in whose footsteps you are on the way. After about 26 kilometers on your bike, you can get…
- 01:5319.5 mi10.3 mph375 ft375 ftEasyEasy bike ride. Great for any fitness level. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
If you want to discover Brandenburg with Fontane's eyes in a short time, then you should do this day tour around the Ruppiner See. With Neuruppin as the starting point, it is ideally suited as an additional tour following the third stage of the FONTANE.RAD route.
The first stop after Neuruppin is Wustrau…
- 02:2825.4 mi10.3 mph225 ft200 ftIntermediateIntermediate bike ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
This tour is a nice alternative for starting the FONTANE.RAD route and can replace the first three stages (Oranienburg, Gransee and Rheinsberg). If you don't have that much time and still want to experience a great discovery tour in the footsteps of Theodor Fontane, this variant is just right for you…
- 03:2636.5 mi10.6 mph550 ft550 ftIntermediateIntermediate bike ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
If you want to take a closer look at Theodor Fontane's birthplace Neuruppin and its surroundings, this day tour is ideal. It whisks you away to the area south of Neuruppin, follows the shore of the Ruppiner See for a while and then continues along meadows and fields. Fontane once particularly liked it…
- 01:4418.7 mi10.8 mph250 ft250 ftEasyEasy bike ride. Great for any fitness level. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
This tour is ideal as an extension or as an additional day tour if you join the FONTANE.RAD route via variant 1. On the rather short round you get to know the area around Wusterhausen / Dosse from a completely different perspective. Fontane called it "dreary" back then - today you would rather call it…
- 01:5420.8 mi10.9 mph175 ft225 ftEasyEasy bike ride. Great for any fitness level. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
The fourth stage on the FONTANE.RAD route is characterized by the wonderful lynx landscape south of Neuruppin. Look forward to a short, quiet ride to Paulinenaue, which leads past small canals and through lush meadows.
You leave Fontane's birthplace Neuruppin along the Ruppiner See. You follow the bank…
- 02:2524.1 mi10.0 mph425 ft425 ftIntermediateIntermediate bike ride. Good fitness required. Some portions of the Tour may be unpaved and difficult to ride.
Fontane would never have believed that a racing pig could defeat a racehorse. In Senzke he learned about this story and the impressively sophisticated, eccentric country life of the Bredows. You probably won't get to see running pigs on this tour. Nevertheless, on the almost 40-kilometer day tour, you…
- 01:5319.3 mi10.2 mph375 ft350 ftEasyEasy bike ride. Great for any fitness level. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
This tour tastes like Havelland all round - you drive through meadows, fields, pine forests and past the manors and castles with far-reaching cultural significance that Fontane admires, such as Nennhausen Castle. If you are in the mood for some industrial culture, you can alternatively end the tour in…
- 03:1932.4 mi9.8 mph425 ft425 ftIntermediateIntermediate bike ride. Good fitness required. Some portions of the Tour may be unpaved and difficult to ride.
"Herr von Ribbeck auf Ribbeck im Havelland ..." - with this line begins the well-known poem by Theodor Fontane, which made the small village with its castle in Havelland famous throughout the country. This tour not only takes you to Ribbeck, but also through the middle of the beautiful Westhavelland…
- 01:5921.2 mi10.7 mph300 ft300 ftFerryEasyEasy bike ride. Great for any fitness level. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels. The Tour includes a crossing by ferry.
The seventh stage of the FONTANE.RAD route is fresh and sparkling. The Havel Canal is responsible for this, but above all the Havel itself. From Paretz you follow the river, which in this area is repeatedly dammed up to form larger lakes and which gives the water-rich landscape its very special character…
- 03:1833.3 mi10.1 mph575 ft575 ftIntermediateIntermediate bike ride. Good fitness required. Some portions of the Tour may be unpaved and difficult to ride.
If Fontane were to set off today, he would love this tour: It is not only beautiful in terms of scenery, but also changeful in terms of cultural history. You take a journey of contrasts through different worlds back to the Middle Ages. Before you ride the last stage of the FONTANE.RAD route, you can…
- 02:5625.0 mi8.5 mph350 ft350 ftExpertExpert bike ride. Good fitness required. Some portions of the Tour may require you to push your bike.
Water, water, water: water awaits you along the route of this tour. The picturesque Havel and its spacious lakes create a sea breeze. Our stations take you to one of Fontane's best friends - and while you're already there, you can take a break from everyday life on the newly created tour around Plaue…
- 01:1212.5 mi10.4 mph250 ft250 ftFerryEasyEasy bike ride. Great for any fitness level. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels. The Tour includes a crossing by ferry.
The last stage of the FONTANE.RAD route takes you from the blossom city Werder to the state capital Potsdam. On the way you can - like Theodor Fontane once - be inspired by the memorable princely towns along the Havel, including Petzow, Geltow and Caputh.
You start from Werder and can look forward to…
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Collection Stats
- Tours17
- Distance425 mi
- Duration41:37 h
- Elevation7,525 ft
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