A cross-border cycling loop – Véloroute des Trois Pays

At the crossroads between France, Switzerland and Germany, the Véloroute des Trois Pays takes you through the history and culture of this cross-border region. This beautiful route leads from the Rhine Valley to the Black Forest, passing through southern Alsace and Switzerland.

Just over 200 kilometres (124 mi) long, the Véloroute des Trois Pays starts in Mulhouse in France and does a loop through Switzerland and Germany. South of Alsace, it winds through Switzerland to the green meadows of the Aargau Jura, before heading back up to Germany through the Black Forest to finish in the Rhine Valley.

The route has both difficult and easy sections. With 1,600 metres (5,250 ft) of climbing along the loop, the stages are relatively flat and accessible, especially in the Rhine Valley and in France. However, you do have a few small hills to contend with before arriving in Switzerland and the Aargau Jura Park, the highest point of the course. The Black Forest is also quite hilly.

My favourite thing about this route was the diversity of landscapes – from quiet nature to urban scenes. This variation really makes you feel like you’re travelling.

You can easily reach the start of this cross-border loop by train. Mulhouse train station is well served by lines from Strasbourg and Colmar as well as by the TGV from Paris and Lyon.

You find hotels, B&Bs and inns at the end of each stage. Mulhouse and Altkirch have campsites. In France, some accommodation options are ‘Accueil vélo’ (bikes welcome) which means they have everything you need for your bike (secured bike shelters, repair kits, etc), as well as services like washing and drying clothes.

Have a good ride from border to border!