From Bremen to the Baltic Sea - The Monks' Trail
Bike Touring Collection by Hannah
11
Tours
42:41 h
402 mi
7,025 ft
On the Monks’ Trail, you cycle in the footsteps of Christian missionaries in the Middle Ages, through the diverse landscape of Lower Saxony and Schleswig-Holstein. Numerous monasteries and churches, sparkling lakes, shaded forests, fruit trees stretching into the horizon, and maritime Hanseatic towns await on this epic journey.
The Monks’ Trail reveals the region’s fascinating history of religion, as well as Slavic and Germanic nationalities. You visit over 100 churches en route. However, history is not the only thing of interest; North Germany also has stunningly varied landscapes.
First, you pass through the Wümmewiesen near Bremen, before continuing through the Stader Geest. The route then takes you through the largest fruit growing region in Germany and vast areas of marshland. Here, you cross the Elbe and enter the undulating forest and heath landscape of Holstein. You cycle past several climatic health resorts on your way to Holstein Switzerland’s enchanting lake landscape. Last but not least, you can dip your feet into the Baltic Sea and relax on the beaches.
The Monks’ Trail
leads 370 miles (600 km) from Bremen to Wagrien on the tip of the Baltic Sea. In this Collection, I have broken down the official route into 11 stages for you. The route is largely flat except for the hilly lake landscape of Holstein Switzerland, which, however, doesn’t get higher than 100 meters (320 feet). Of course, you can also choose to cycle individual stages rather than completing them all in one go. The Monks’ Trail
is suitable for cyclists of all ages.
The stage lengths vary between 18 and 43 miles (30 and 70 km) They give you enough time to get off your bike and explore the great places along the way. This subdivision of the stages is a suggestion that I have taken from the official route. You can shorten or lengthen them as you wish, or decide spontaneously each day where you want to end the stage.
In the beautiful places along the route, you’ll find accommodation that is geared towards cyclists. You can also use the Komoot route planner to find the nearest campsites if you are travelling with a tent.
You can easily reach the starting point in Bremen with public transport. Likewise, your final destination on the island of Fehmarn is well-connected by train and bus. If you’re itching to go further, you could even take a ferry to Denmark from the island.
This Monks’ Trail is best in summer, as you pass numerous swimming lakes. The island of Fehmarn on the Baltic Sea is also a great place to end your trip on the beach when the sun is shining.
On The Map
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Last updated: November 23, 2021
Tours & Highlights
- Expert04:2544.2 mi10.0 mph675 ft675 ftExpert bike ride. Good fitness required. Some portions of the Tour may require you to push your bike.
Your journey begins in Bremen, absolutely bike-friendly and even in third place in bike cities across Europe. Here you feel comfortable as a bike traveler and start with a wonderful feeling on your journey along the Mönchsweg. The first stage covers 70 kilometers, so I recommend that you start early…
by Hannah
- Intermediate02:3120.0 mi7.9 mph325 ft300 ftIntermediate bike ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
On your second stage, a relaxed 30 kilometers to Harsefeld are on the program, so you can start the day at a leisurely pace in Zeven. On your route you drive through the middle of the Stader Geest, a special landscape that was formed by sand deposits in the last ice age.
The first place on your way is…
by Hannah
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- Intermediate02:1821.3 mi9.3 mph250 ft275 ftIntermediate bike ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
Today's stage takes you 34 kilometers to the picturesque Hanseatic city of Stade. From Harsefeld you drive through forest and field to Bliedersdorf, where one of the oldest field churches in the region is located. From there it continues to Horneburg. The small river flows through the town and has a…
by Hannah
- Intermediate03:1934.1 mi10.3 mph350 ft350 ftIntermediate bike ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
Today it's about 50 kilometers to the Elbe ferry. After you have left the beautiful Hanseatic city of Stade, the vastness of the marshland will enchant you on this tour and lead you through small places like Himmelpforte or Breitenwisch.
Once on the banks of the Oste, you follow their course to the magnificent…
by Hannah
- Intermediate04:1243.7 mi10.4 mph375 ft375 ftFerryIntermediate bike ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels. The Tour includes a crossing by ferry.
Today is your lucky day because you start your stage in Glückstadt. You will reach Kellinghusen on 70 kilometers, accompanied by the sturgeon.
Endless horizons await you on your tour through the marsh landscape. After the first 25 kilometers you will reach the Else cable ferry, which will take you safely…
by Hannah
- Expert07:3670.8 mi9.3 mph1,400 ft1,400 ftExpert bike ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
The sixth stage leads to the climatic health resort of Bad Segeberg over 70 kilometers, and you've already cycled half of the 530-kilometer Mönchsweg.
The path runs through wide fields and you pass the small Stellau church. Here you can also make a detour to Melkhus for a delicious breakfast. After about…
by Hannah
- Intermediate03:3234.4 mi9.7 mph650 ft675 ftIntermediate bike ride. Good fitness required. Some portions of the Tour may be unpaved and difficult to ride.
This stage is an optional day tour from Bad Segeberg to the monastery in Nütschau. The Benedictine monastery is the only monastery still active on the Mönchsweg and is located on Via Baltica, part of the Jakobsweg. The circular route from Bad Segeberg to the monastery takes you around 37 kilometers to…
by Hannah
- Expert03:4033.9 mi9.2 mph850 ft900 ftExpert bike ride. Good fitness required. Some portions of the Tour may require you to push your bike.
The next regular stage takes you over 50 kilometers from Bad Segeberg further north to the city of Plön, which is criss-crossed by lakes. You will come across lots of lakes on your route, all of which are ideal for swimming. Therefore, you can only make the right decision at which point you want to take…
by Hannah
- Intermediate03:4233.8 mi9.1 mph1,050 ft1,125 ftIntermediate bike ride. Good fitness required. Some portions of the Tour may be unpaved and difficult to ride.
In today's stage, the route takes you to the port town of Neustadt in Holstein on the Bay of Lübeck and you can already look forward to fresh Baltic sea air.
Even if you leave the water town of Plön, your tour of 55 kilometers today will be no less rich in lakes. On your route through the lake landscape…
by Hannah
- Intermediate02:5427.2 mi9.4 mph475 ft450 ftIntermediate bike ride. Good fitness required. Some portions of the Tour may be unpaved and difficult to ride.
Your penultimate stage of the Mönchsweg on the Baltic Sea coast starts today. With a length of 44 kilometers to Oldenburg, you can start the route at a leisurely pace and look forward to many breaks for enjoyment and your first beach.
It starts with a dangling over Altenkrempe past the basilica. Then…
by Hannah
- Intermediate04:3338.9 mi8.5 mph650 ft675 ftIntermediate bike ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
Today begins the last stage of your 600 km journey in the footsteps of the monks. The route takes you today for almost 60 kilometers over the Baltic Sea to Puttgarden on the island of Fehmarn.
In Oldenburg you drive through small villages to Heiligenhafen, 20 kilometers away, the center of which is located…
by Hannah
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Collection Stats
- Tours11
- Distance402 mi
- Duration42:41 h
- Elevation7,025 ft
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