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City magic of Thuringia
City magic of Thuringia
Cities of Thuringia lure with history, art, and pleasure…
This long-distance Cycle Path joins together seven of the most beautiful cities of Thuringia and leads through a wonderful and contrasting landscape. The cities in Thuringia are highly impressive: They thrive on the glorious past, breathe in medieval flair, and yet establish a link between the past and the future at the same time. We cycle at the foot of the Thuringian forest, following the Ilm Cycle Path, the Saale Cycle Path, and the White-Magpie Cycle Path, and discover the area of the national garden show of 2007 by Gera.
Total length: approx. 235 bicycle kilometres
Dates
Travel beginning: on Sundays
Duration: 8 days (7 nights)
Itinerary
1. Day: Eisenach
Individual arrival and accommodation. Let’s explore the birthplace of Johann Sebastian Bach, which has become famous on account of the Wartburg (UNESCO World Cultural Heritage).
2. Day: Eisenach - Gotha (approx. 40 km)
Following the course of the Hörsel we cycle mostly on small roads today through the Thuringian Basin. At noon we reach the well-preserved Art Noveau complex of the “Galopprennbahn Boxberg” (racetrack) with its glorious monuments and then we cycle to Gotha.
3. Day: Gotha - Erfurt (approx. 41 km)
On today’s route we pass the town of Wechmar, which was nominated as the “most beautiful town of Thuringia” in 2003. Soon afterwards we behold the medieval castle trio of Wachsenburg, Mühlburg and Gleichen Castle, also called the “three Gleichen”. In the afternoon we reach Erfurt with its medieval City Centre, the Cathedral and the Krämer Bridge.
4. Day: Erfurt - Weimar (approx. 25 km)
After a short daily stage we roll into the 1000-year-old classical city of Weimar. Goethe, Schiller, Lucas Cranach, Johann Sebastian Bach, and Franz Liszt have lived and worked here. We can retrace the steps of these prestigious artists, visit the imperial palace and the Bauhaus Museum, the national theatre, or relax in the park or by the Ilm.
5. Day: Weimar - Stadtroda (approx. 42 km)
The idyllic Ilm Cycle Path accompanies us from Weimar and we cycle to the university city of Jena. Cycling on the Saale Cycle Path and through the narrow valley of the Roda we reach Stadtroda.
6. Day: Stadtroda - Gera (approx. 43 km)
The „green heart of Germany“ – Thuringia’s second name – takes us first on fantastic routes over many kilometres through the woody Zeitzgrund and then along the Rauda through the beautiful Mühl Valley. In the afternoon we continue to cycle on a former train line and on the extended White-Magpie-Cycle Path to Gera.
7. Day: Gera - Altenburg (approx. 44 km)
We cycle via Ronneburg to Altenburg (extensive castle with a playing cards museum).
8. Day: Altenburg
Individual departure or extension of trip.