Cycling destinations in Germany – romantic cities in the midst of beautiful countryside

City and country united – cycling destinations in Germany

Sure, big cities like Munich, Dresden, Stuttgart or Hamburg also have a beautiful surrounding area to offer. However, the metropolises are large enough to take a week or more for them. In addition, there are still many cycling destinations in Germany where history and nature experience, landscape and lifestyle meet. Such places can be found all over the country: it blooms and smells, action meets culture - and all the senses are challenged. A romantic town in hilly greenery – what more could you want? The utensils necessary for the bike tour, such as helmets, functional clothing or a change of clothes, are stored in a roof box from market leader Kupplung.de.

Bamberg (Bavaria) – a living World Heritage Site

The Upper Franconian city of Bamberg is of course not an insider tip - the special flair of the old episcopal city has long since spread everywhere: Bamberg is a World Heritage Site and especially the old town area with the cathedral, the old town hall, the residence and the picturesque sandy road below the Cathedral Hill are worth seeing. Bamberg is also called "Little Venice", which is located in the old fishing district on the Regnitz. Here are densely packed half-timbered buildings from the Middle Ages, surrounded by small gardens in which it blooms colorfully. "Little Venice" can be easily explored by boat. From Bamberg, it is not far to Franconian Switzerland, which attracts visitors with climbing rocks, the cult mountain Walberla, many brewery restaurants or the Hundshaupten game reserve.

Melsungen (Hesse) – simply fairytale

Handball fans know Melsungen because of the successful Bundesliga club, but the northern Hessian city stands for more: It has a castle, and the old town enchants with beautiful half-timbered houses. Melsungen is also known as the "Bartenwetzerstadt" because most people used to work as lumberjacks and went out in the morning with their axe (Barte in North German). If you want to see a Bartenwetzer, you have to come to the town hall at 12 or 6 p.m. - the symbolic figure shows up at the turret. And: From the Bartenwetzer Bridge you have a magnificent view over the Fulda. Melsungen is located on the German Half-Timbered House Route - and on the German Fairy Tale Route. If you search, you will find the Gänseliesl from the Grimm fairy tale "The Goose Girl" in the centre. Like the Melsungen region, the city is a region full of exciting contrasts: romantic villages, defiant castles and mysterious monasteries, the low mountain range, meandering rivers and, last but not least, the ARS NATURA art hiking trail are close together and waiting to be discovered.

Schwerin (Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania) – the special capital

The capital of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania is worth a longer trip - and by no means "just" a short trip. The best place to start your first tour is in the old town – discover the Pfaffenteich, many small shops, narrow streets with pretty half-timbered houses or the cathedral. Directly behind the market square begins a district that is now very hip, the Schelfstadt. From there it continues to Schwerin's city harbour with its sailboat idyll. You then cycle in the direction of the Marstall and plan a detour to the Seglerheim with its magnificent view of the Schwerin inner lake. On the castle island, the fairytale castle awaits, which is now the seat of the state parliament of "Meck-Pomm." You should bring time, Schwerin also attracts with art and culture. If you like it more contemplative, discover the seven lakes that gave the city the nickname "Florence of the North". If you want to know how people in the region used to live, you should visit the open-air museum in Schwerin-Mueß. For curious kids, the Minimare Discovery Park in Kalkhorst awaits - just under an hour's drive from Schwerin.

Wernigerode (Saxony-Anhalt) – the pearl in the Harz Mountains

The Harz Mountains are currently very trendy as a hiking area, but there are also all kinds of pretty towns and villages to marvel at. Wernigerode is particularly impressive with its magnificent old town. The dominant building on the market square is the old town hall, which was first mentioned in 1277. Above all, the two narrow towers make the building look unusual and unique. Historic half-timbered houses are grouped around it, which you should discover. Especially the "leaning house" and the "smallest house" are famous sights. Out into nature: If you are in very good shape and are looking for hearty nature experiences, use the Heinrich Heine Trail. It takes just under eleven kilometres from Ilsenburg to the Brocken summit. A little less energy-sapping, but still challenging, is the tour to the Ilse Falls.

By the way...

Of course, Germany offers other places that are embedded in wonderful landscapes - for example Bacharach on the Rhine, the artists' town of Worspwede, Stralsund, Meersburg on Lake Constance, Tübingen or the three-river city of Passau. Cyclists also get their money's worth everywhere. The bikes are then brought to their destination with a bike rack from market leader Kupplung.de. It couldn't be more practical.

• Photo creditsBritta van Elk/Pixabay
  Herbert Aust/Pixabay
• Anja/Pixabay
• Culture and Tourist Information Melsunger Land e. V.
• Rene Beck/Pixabay
• Alfred Stier/Pixabay
• Jürgen/Pixabay
• Sven Lachmann/Pixabay
• Rameder