Cycling Collection by Radnetz Deutschland
17
days
3-5 h
/ day
1,026 km
8,480 m
8,410 m
Cycling from west to east through the middle of Germany is possible on the Mittelland Route. The 1,000-kilometre (600 mi) D-Route 4 takes you across the country, from one border triangle to the other, from the far west to the far east of Germany. You cross five federal states and take on quite a bit of elevation gain in the forested low mountain ranges along this varied route.
You start in Aachen, very close to where the borders of Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands meet. From here, you travel via Bonn, Siegen, Bad Hersfeld, Erfurt, Chemnitz and Dresden to Zittau. Just outside the city, at the border triangle of Germany, Poland and the Czech Republic, the Mittelland Route ends and meets D-Route 12: komoot.com/collection/147. Along the way, you'll pass lovely wooded mountain ranges, wildly romantic river valleys, vast landscapes that open up fabulous distant views, and wonderful cultural sites, such as medieval castles, palaces and historic towns.
In this Collection, the Mittelland Route is divided into 17 stages. The start point in Aachen is easily reached by train. You'll also find a station at your end point, Zittau, from where you can comfortably start your journey home. The end of each stage is well served by both accommodation and connections to the rail network. This is one of the more demanding D-Routes, as it entails significant elevation gain. You may want to split the stages further or take an e-bike, depending on your fitness.
The Mittelland Route is part of the German Cycling Network and an integral part of the German government's National Cycling Plan. The 12 long-distance cycle routes and the German Unity Cycle Route connect all regions of Germany with north-south and west-east connections. To this end, existing long-distance cycle routes, river routes or themed routes are interlinked with each other, joined at attractive and exciting locations and integrated into the existing Eurovelo network. A Collection with all 12 D-routes and the German Unity Cycle Route can be found at komoot.com/collection/1928660.
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Last updated: November 13, 2024
Plan your own version of this adventure in the multi-day planner based on the stages suggested in this Collection.
03:58
60.9km
15.3km/h
780m
740m
The D-Route 4: Mittelland route begins in the extreme west of Germany, in Aachen. You can get here comfortably with regional and long-distance trains. There are also some direct connections from France and Belgium.
From Aachen you cycle into the hilly Eiffel. Surrounded by beautiful forest and beautiful…
04:08
68.8km
16.7km/h
500m
660m
Behind Heimbach you master the biggest climb of today's stage right at the beginning. Through the nature reserve Heimbachtal it goes over the Adamsberg. Then long descents through open fields and meadows await you.
From Euskirchen you cycle comfortably on an almost flat route towards the Rhine. You will…
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04:14
67.2km
15.9km/h
400m
330m
Today you continue the journey along the Rhine. With a view of the Siebengebirge you cycle to the center of Bonn. Here you cross the river on the Rhine bridge and drive towards Siegburg.
Behind the city, the D-Route 4 takes you on a relatively direct route via Hennef to Merten. It then continues along…
03:47
57.3km
15.1km/h
540m
420m
From Rosbach, the Mittelland route takes you on this stage via the Siegtal cycle path. You are both directly on the river bank and on the bank slopes, which is why you complete some inclines.
It starts off flat to Oppertsau. Behind the village begins a crisp climb up to Dünebusch. A magnificent view and…
03:36
55.0km
15.3km/h
740m
710m
This stage of D-Route 4 is challenging because it takes you to the Rothaargebirge. You will collect a corresponding amount of altitude on the way. In Siegen, things get off to a relaxed start by following Siegen all the way to Netphen. Then the first steep ascent begins up to the Obernautalsperre.
As…
03:08
53.0km
16.9km/h
210m
240m
After you have covered many meters of altitude the day before, it will be a little more relaxed today. From Biedenkopf you cycle comfortably through the Lahntal. The route is slightly downhill on the first half of the stage, only small counter climbs are waiting for you.
At Cölbe you reach the Ohm estuary…
04:59
83.3km
16.7km/h
480m
520m
From Stadtallendorf you cycle through small forests and wide fields to the Wieragrund. Along the Wiera you get to Treysa. From here you follow the railway cycle path Little Red Riding Hood. The former railway line takes you to Oberaula. On the way you master a decent climb, but you have wonderful views…
04:21
71.5km
16.5km/h
470m
460m
Today's stage starts with a long climb. This begins after you have left the Fulda Valley. On the Solzradweg you ride along the river of the same name up to Schenklengsfeld. In the center of the community there is an impressive old linden tree under which you can rest.
With new strength we continue. You…
03:03
45.7km
15.0km/h
290m
190m
From Hörschel you follow the Hörsel, a tributary of the Werra, to Eisenach. You continue cycling past the Hörselberge to the Boxberg. It goes steadily uphill. On the Boxberg you have reached the highest point of the stage and can enjoy the remaining kilometers to the day's destination Gotha without much…
03:49
66.1km
17.3km/h
240m
320m
From Gotha you drive through a wonderfully open landscape, which is characterized by the three equals. The mountain ensemble on which the three medieval castles stand can be seen from afar.
With these beautiful impressions in your luggage you will reach Erfurt. It is worth taking a long break in the city…
03:40
55.7km
15.2km/h
470m
390m
In Weimar, the D-Route 4: Mittelland route takes you to the Ilm. You leave the city through the Ilmpark and pass Goethe's garden house. On the Ilmtal cycle path you follow the river for a while. Finally you leave the valley and cycle over a few heights in the direction of Jena, which you reach after…
03:34
57.6km
16.1km/h
370m
440m
Some mills are waiting for you again today. Behind Bad Klosterlausnitz you dive into the Mühlental. It goes through beautiful forest and mostly downhill. A Bahntrassenradweg then leads you to Hartmannsdorf and the Weiße Elster. You follow the river to Gera, where you can take a break.
Then it goes up…
03:45
54.8km
14.6km/h
560m
500m
From Crimmitschau it goes gently up and down to Glauchau. Behind you start the ascent to the Rabensteiner Höhenzug. On the way you will pass the Oberwald reservoir, which invites you to swim in good weather.
At the Totenstein you reach the highest point of the ridge. Here you will find a place to stop…
03:14
45.5km
14.1km/h
710m
610m
Today's stage is short, but still has it all, because it goes up and down happily. So you collect over 700 meters in altitude over the approximately 45 kilometers.
From Chemnitz you cycle to the Katzenberg. From here you have a great view and you can already see Augustusburg with its castle, which you…
03:25
54.5km
16.0km/h
450m
740m
This stage of D-Route 4 is also hilly. From Freiberg you cycle partly through forests, but mainly through wide, open landscape to Niederbobritzsch.
Then it goes in a large arc along the edge of the Tharandter Forest to Tharandt. Here you will meet the Wilde Weißeritz, which you follow on a slightly sloping…
03:23
53.2km
15.7km/h
520m
310m
Ferry
At the start of today's stage you drive comfortably along the Elbe on a flat route. You have wonderful views of the opposite bank with its picturesque slopes and palaces.
At Heidenau you cross the river with a ferry, then it gets hilly again. A long climb with some steep climbs takes you to Saxon Switzerland…
05:02
76.2km
15.2km/h
750m
840m
At the end of the D-Route 4 it will be challenging again: 750 meters of altitude await you today. You master the biggest climbs right at the beginning of the stage in Hohwald. Then you drive off to Schirigswalde, where you meet the young Spree. You follow it upstream and pass the Sohland reservoir. On…
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