Cycling in the Land of Open Distances – Rhön Cycleway in Germany

Gentle mountain slopes, blossoming meadows and shaded forests come together in the “Land of Open Distances” – the Rhön. Situated in the heart of Germany, the UNESCO Rhön Biosphere Reserve offers unique landscapes stretching across Thuringia, Hesse, and Bavaria. The 111 mile (180 km) long Rhön Cycleway takes you through wide valleys and mountain pastures, along gushing rivers, and to historic villages with idyllic half-timbered buildings.

In this Collection, the Rhön Cycleway takes you from the spa town of Bad Salzungen in Thuringia to the wine town of Hammelburg in Franconia in five stages. Ranging in length from 16.7 to 31.6 miles (27 to 51 km), the stages give you plenty of time to explore the beautiful region at your own pace. You can easily combine the stages together if you prefer longer days on your saddle.

In total, you will climb 4,822 feet (1,470 m). However, as the elevation gain is spread over three stages it is very manageable as long as you have a basic level of fitness. The final section brings you down into the valley and through the Hammelburg wine country which is mostly flat.

You will mostly follow tarmaced paths, with the very occasional unpaved path or cobblestoned street, and quiet roads away from busy traffic. This means any bike, including your road bike, is suitable to enjoy the mountain scenery to the fullest.

Your adventure begins in the Thuringian spa town Bad Salzungen. From here, you cross the wildly romantic Werra Valley and Ulster Valley. You will ride along riverside paths lined by wooded hills to the town of Geisa in Hesse. Here, you can learn more about the history of divided Germany at the Point Alpha border museum. A gentle ascent takes you through lush green meadows and paths through fields to the Wüstensachsen health resort.

Next, you climb up to 2,723 feet (830 m) where the stunning panorama of the Hochrhön awaits before an exhilarating descent down into the municipality of Bischofsheim. You can also enjoy some rapid descents on stage 4, when you visit the Bad Kissingen health resort. The final leg takes you through the vineyards of the Saale Valley before finishing in Hammelburg with a glass of the finest Franconian wine.

To reach the start of your adventure in Bad Salzungen, you can take the STB 41 regional train from the Thuringian towns of Eisenach, Meiningen or Eisfeld. If you travel by car, you can return to the start point easily by train Hammelburg via Meiningen. You can also reach Frankfurt am Main, Nuremberg or Erfurt by train from Hammelburg via Schweinfurt. There’s a Flixbus from Schweinfurt to numerous cities around Germany and abroad.

The towns along the route offer you fantastic hotels, guesthouses, inns or holiday apartments. I’ve included information in each route description. Camping is also an excellent option. You’ll find an idyllic campsite at each of the stage destinations. Thanks to the low light pollution in the area, you’ll be able to enjoy stunning starry skies at night.