© Florian Trykowski
Cycling in Franconia – romantic German landscapes & local food
Bike Touring Collection by FrankenTourismus
15
Tours
51:44 h
483 mi
17,925 ft
Surrounded by colourful meadows and fragrant forests, riding through Franconia is like cycling through the pages of a fairytale. This picturesque region of southern Germany is known for its half-timbered houses, magnificent castles, palaces and fruit orchards, not to mention its hearty regional dishes and giant schnitzels.
In this Collection, we present 15 rides through this wonderful region. We have included four Tours which make up the bicycle butterfly, a butterfly-shaped route marked with blue, red, purple, and green trails. These rides show you the most beautiful spots around the medieval town of Rothenburg ob der Tauber. You’ll explore tranquil villages, shady forests, and former railway lines, as well as the occasional impressive castle.
The routes in the northeast of Franconia near the city of Nuremberg take you to baroque churches and unusual sculptures as you ride through the Zenne, Farrnbach, and Bibert valleys. In the south, you can take a dip in wild swimming lakes as you ride around the Hesselberg, the highest point in Franconia, and along the Wörnitz River. Don’t forget to pack your towel and maybe a picnic too. Afterall, what could be nicer than a picnic on a blanket beside a shimmering lake?
You can reach these Tours by train from across Germany. As many of them are circular routes, you can easily plan a flexible adventure.
On The Map
Tours & Highlights
- 04:2941.9 mi9.3 mph1,550 ft1,525 ftExpertExpert bike ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
A good 67 kilometers of romantic Franconian flair lie ahead of you on this beautiful circular tour. Old castles, half-timbered houses, wonderful landscapes - there is nothing missing from the blue wheel butterfly.
In the romantic-medieval city of Rothenburg ob der Tauber you swing on your saddle. You…
- 03:4133.9 mi9.2 mph1,375 ft1,375 ftIntermediateIntermediate bike ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
Following the red wing of the wheel butterfly, you wind around 55 kilometers through the southern part of the Frankenhöhe Nature Park. Pack a few bathing suits, because alongside the fantastic landscape there is also an inviting natural outdoor pool.
The round tour starts in the city of Schillingsfürst…
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- 04:0738.2 mi9.3 mph1,575 ft1,575 ftExpertExpert bike ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
Picturesque landscapes and beautiful towns await you on the approximately 62-kilometer circular tour of the purple wheel butterfly, on which you cross the Bavarian border and enter Baden-Württemberg.
The tour starts in the tranquil Insingen, which goes back to an Alemannic settlement. There are numerous…
- 05:0947.4 mi9.2 mph2,100 ft2,125 ftExpertExpert bike ride. Very good fitness required. Some portions of the Tour may be unpaved and difficult to ride.
A castle, tranquil cities and fantastic landscapes characterize the 65-kilometer route of the green wheel butterfly. The tour starts in the beautiful city of Schillingsfürst, where you can see the magnificent castle and hunting falcon flight show before you climb on the bike.
Then it goes out to the villages…
- 02:3523.7 mi9.2 mph600 ft775 ftIntermediateIntermediate bike ride. Good fitness required. Some portions of the Tour may be unpaved and difficult to ride.
With its length of around 38 kilometers, the Ansbach Carp Cycle Route from Leutershausen to Windsbach is an ideal basis for extended tours. After leaving your starting point behind you will find yourself in the middle of open fields. You cross the Zobelholzbach and there is the first and only climb.
You…
- 01:4414.8 mi8.6 mph575 ft575 ftIntermediateIntermediate bike ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
A good 22 kilometers of relaxed rolling through the most beautiful landscapes make this wonderful circular tour a great excursion for the whole family. You always have the Hesselberg in view and you pass idyllic ponds.
Your tour starts in beautiful Wittelshofen and leads you over the leisurely flowing…
- 02:3422.8 mi8.9 mph1,050 ft1,025 ftIntermediateIntermediate bike ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
This relaxed 37 kilometer round tour takes you along the Sulzach to picturesque villages and towns with their half-timbered houses typical of Franconia. The most beautiful nature and physical well-being are of course not neglected.
Your tour starts at the magical market square of Feuchtwangen. You leave…
- 02:2822.2 mi9.0 mph750 ft750 ftIntermediateIntermediate bike ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
Romantic half-timbered houses, idyllic villages, meadows and art works along the way - the almost 36-kilometer round tour is the epitome of variety. The changing path types, however, require a certain level of fitness and ability.
Your journey of discovery along the Bibert river valley starts in the pretty…
- 03:1631.2 mi9.6 mph800 ft825 ftExpertExpert bike ride. Good fitness required. Some portions of the Tour may require you to push your bike.
A wonderfully extensive circular tour around the Farrnbach Valley with natural cycling through the picturesque landscape awaits you on this 50-kilometer route. The road conditions and distance require a good level of fitness from you.
In historic Cadolzburg you get on your saddle and start towards the…
- 03:1329.6 mi9.2 mph975 ft975 ftIntermediateIntermediate bike ride. Good fitness required. Some portions of the Tour may be unpaved and difficult to ride.
Discover and relax is a top priority on this almost 48-kilometer circular tour. The route takes you along beautiful nature through beautiful, historic inner towns, field and meadow landscapes and one or the other culinary temptation.
The journey starts in the tranquil Seukendorf. You drive north across…
- 04:1239.9 mi9.5 mph1,275 ft1,275 ftIntermediateIntermediate bike ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
Springs, ponds and lakes full - that's what the 64-kilometer circular tour of the Dinkelsbühler Karpfenlandroute promises. It follows the course of the water and spans the extensive pond areas of the region.
In tranquil Halsbach you start the varied round tour that follows the course of the Wörnitz between…
- 05:1449.6 mi9.5 mph1,800 ft1,800 ftExpertExpert bike ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
For centuries, the Hohenzollerns, one of the most important aristocratic dynasties in Germany, ruled the area around Ansbach: from the end of the 14th century to the beginning of the 19th century as margraves. On this bike tour you will discover many of the traces that they have left in the region.
It…
- 01:4716.9 mi9.4 mph825 ft825 ftIntermediateIntermediate bike ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
This leisurely cycle tour takes you from beautiful Herrieden through the picturesque Franconian landscape to the herbal teaching garden near Elbersroth, through the Wiesethtal to the village of the same name and back again. The paths, which run across fields and through forests, make for a varied route…
- 03:1232.8 mi10.3 mph800 ft800 ftIntermediateIntermediate bike ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
This beautiful cycle tour can be taken as a brisk half-day tour or expanded into a varied day trip with several stops. You cycle relaxed along the Sulzach and Wörnitz rivers through a beautiful meadow landscape without any major climbs. Just before the end you can expect a slightly longer ascent.
From…
- 04:0237.8 mi9.4 mph1,875 ft1,875 ftExpertExpert bike ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
NorA stands for the northern district of Ansbach, which is located in the Frankenhöhe nature park. On this cycle tour, which connects the five municipalities of this association, you can expect beautiful nature, beautiful views, historical sights and also a few meters of altitude, which can be easily…
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Collection Stats
- Tours15
- Distance483 mi
- Duration51:44 h
- Elevation17,925 ft
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