Through the heart of Europe – riding the Euregio Egrensis
Bike Touring Collection by Sebastian Gliem
10
Tours
46:21 h
401 mi
31,975 ft
Castles, rivers, lakes, mines, European history, fantastic views and lots of nature. I don't even know where to begin and end as the Euregio Egrensis long-distance cycle route, or the Bavaria-Thuringia-Saxony-Bohemia long-distance cycle route, is so multifaceted. Whether you're cycling in the Fichtelgebirge mountains, the Bohemian Forest or the Upper Palatinate, it makes no difference; everywhere you'll find magnificent spas with beautiful parks, historically charged squares and wonderful castles and palaces. All this on 646 kilometres (400 mi), if you follow my route; the original is 616 kilometres (383 mi) long, but I've added a few small detours.
The long-distance cycle route was once initiated by the Euregio Egrensis, a cross-border platform for exchange and encounter in the region. The colourful logo with the green-white-red-blue stripes can also be found in the signposting on the German part of the trail, although you won't find this symbol on the Czech side.
I have divided this Collection in the heart of Europe into a total of ten stages, which seem quite relaxed in terms of distance but which should not be underestimated due to their significant altitude gain: you have between 800 and 1,100 metres (2,625–3,280 ft) to climb every day. The stage destinations are all places where you can find accommodation for the night. In some towns, such as Karlovy Vary (Carlsbad) on the Czech side, this will probably not be a problem but it's best to book your accommodation in advance. That way, you can concentrate on the many sights during the day and not worry about having a roof over your head every evening.
From time to time, you’ll leave the signposted path, as picturesque towns such as Loket (Elbogen) or castles await you in the immediate vicinity. You’ll also cross the former inner-German border, a place steeped in history even after more than 30 years of German reunification.
And what bike do I recommend for your adventure? A heavy mountain bike is probably not the right choice. However, the route is not suitable for racing bikes either because it leads you down unpaved trails so a touring bike with off-road tyres and gears suitable for mountainous terrain is ideal. With a touring bike, you can enjoy every terrain you meet and also manage a few steep but often long climbs. Once you reach the top, there are usually nice places to take a break with great views over the Erzgebirge, the Fichtelgebirge or the Upper Palatinate Forest.
I chose Netzschkau in Saxony as the starting point because you can get there by train. Of course, you can also start the adventure in one of the other towns, but not all of them have good public transport connections. In Zeulenroda, Bad Steben, Mariánské Lázně, Karlovy Vary and Pernink you will find good public transport links.
I wish you a great long-distance cycling trip in the heart of Europe.
On The Map
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Last updated: May 30, 2023
Tours & Highlights
- 04:1738.9 mi9.1 mph2,850 ft2,725 ftExpertExpert bike ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
I hope you had a good breakfast, because the first day of your round trip through the German and Czech low mountain ranges is scenically and culturally very attractive, but also physically challenging. So you should be well strengthened and start the stages with enough food.
This also applies to the first…
- 05:1045.0 mi8.7 mph3,300 ft2,775 ftExpertExpert bike ride. Very good fitness required. Some portions of the Tour may be unpaved and difficult to ride.
Slept well? Then let's get started! Today you cycle from Zeulenroda to Bad Steben, crossing the former inner-German border and enjoying wonderful views over various dams and lakes. You can "climb" some, sometimes steeper climbs and earn your break bread. Today's program includes a total of 72 kilometers…
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- 04:2536.0 mi8.2 mph3,400 ft3,700 ftExpertExpert bike ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
Your third day on the long-distance cycle route takes you 58 kilometers through Upper Franconia from Bad Steben to Kupferberg, one of the smallest towns in Germany with 1,060 inhabitants. You can already find two of the highlights along the way in Bad Steben if you haven't seen them the day before. In…
- 04:2536.3 mi8.2 mph3,200 ft3,000 ftExpertExpert bike ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
Because it was so nice yesterday, you can spend almost 60 kilometers in the saddle again today and cover around 1,000 meters in altitude. Beautiful railway cycle paths and sights ensure that you will never regret the sometimes long climbs.
But before you really get started, I recommend a visit to the…
- 05:0942.0 mi8.1 mph3,325 ft3,325 ftExpertExpert bike ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
Today you celebrate mountain festival on the long-distance cycle path when you reach Bad Neualbenreuth after almost 68 kilometers and 1,000 meters in altitude. But first it's back to the official route, which you will reach after a few kilometers north of Reichenbach. Shortly afterwards you have already…
- 05:1042.7 mi8.3 mph3,500 ft3,250 ftExpertExpert bike ride. Very good fitness required. Some portions of the Tour may be unpaved and difficult to ride.
The sixth day on the long-distance cycle route through Saxony, Thuringia, Bavaria and Bohemia brings you to the Czech side of the border today. After almost 70 kilometers and again over 1,000 meters in altitude, your destination today is Mariánské Lázně (Marienbad). Bad Neualbenreuth and Mariánské L…
- 04:5144.4 mi9.2 mph2,950 ft3,725 ftExpertExpert bike ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
Today you connect the two most famous Czech spa towns of Mariánské Lázně (Marienbad) and Karlovy Vary (Karlsbad). For once, you stay below the 1,000 meters of altitude on the almost 69 kilometers through Bohemia. The seventh stage is rural, so pack one more picnic than usual.
You start from Mariánsk…
- 03:5632.9 mi8.3 mph3,350 ft1,850 ftExpertExpert bike ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
Did you sleep well? After several nights in health resorts with a variety of relaxation options, I assume so. And I hope so for you, too, because today, with 53 kilometers and over 1,000 meters in altitude, another tough stage is on the agenda. Almost 700 meters of altitude add up in a 20-kilometer climb…
- 04:1738.1 mi8.9 mph3,675 ft3,700 ftExpertExpert bike ride. Very good fitness required. Some portions of the Tour may require you to push your bike.
On the ninth and penultimate stage on your journey through Saxony, Thuringia, Bavaria and Bohemia, it will be exhausting again, some longer climbs, but also beautiful downhill stretches lie ahead of you on the almost 61 kilometers.
To warm up, you can cycle straight uphill towards Horní Blatná, where…
- 04:4345.0 mi9.5 mph2,425 ft3,925 ftExpertExpert bike ride. Very good fitness required. Some portions of the Tour may require you to push your bike.
The last day of your tour is when you wake up in your bed in Vogtland. Today there is one last stage on the plan, past Plauen and the Pöhl dam, which takes you almost 72 kilometers back to Netzschkau. Incidentally, it is the flattest part of the entire tour, "only" about 750 vertical meters want to be…
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Collection Stats
- Tours10
- Distance401 mi
- Duration46:21 h
- Elevation31,975 ft
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