Biking

Rothenburg ob der Tauber is a treasure trove for bicyclists: from here you can start one of the most beautiful tours in Germany. The Tauber Valley bike trails, Altmühl bike trail, the bike trail on the Castle Road and a connection to the Aisch Valley bike trail are all diverse ways to access the city. Many of the tours – particularly the Tauber Valley bike trail – are suitable for families with children. Circuits towards the Franconian Heights and into the wine country in the Tauber Valley invite guests to stay longer in Rothenburg.

Where to go on bike from Rothenburg ob der Tauber? Down into the Tauber Valley and off into the north. Or towards the south and via the Franconian Heights to Altmühl. That’s what many bicyclists choose when they feel like a long-distance excursion. Both are excellent trails and offer a diverse nature experience for the whole family. The Tauber Valley bike trail follows 102 kilometers along the river, passing the wine regions near Creglingen with its Riemenschneider Altar at the Herrgotts Church (a must!) and Röttingen with its viticulture museum to Bad Mergentheim and Wertheim, where a longer stop is recommended to visit the castle and historic old city. Following the Altmühl bike trail, you get via Gunzenhausen and Treuchtlingen to Eichstätt and Kelheim. Experiencing nature here in the island world of the Altmühlsee should be a fixed element in every tour schedule. The castles in Treuchtlingen, Kipfenberg and Riedenburg are also worth seeing.  The entire route is about 250 kilometers. The Aisch Valley stretches towards the east from Rothenburg ob der Tauber. Over a total distance of 121 kilometers, you’ll pass Bad Windsheim with its Open Air Museum as well as the vineyard region in Ipsheim and reach Neustadt an der Aisch. For bicyclists with an appetite: The Aisch Valley is famous for its carp tradition.

If you only want to leave Rothenburg ob der Tauber for a short time on the bike, your best bet is to ask for the “Radschmetterling” (bicycle butterfly) map. This map shows four loops around the city which together look like a butterfly on paper. All four routes are about 70 kilometers in length and lead to towns in Hohenlohe and on the Franconian Heights. “Höhe” means height, which should alert some bicyclists: Routes in the hilly Franconian countryside mean a constant up and down for riders. It’s good that the local bicycle rental shop and some hotels have E-bikes for rent. The Goldener Hirsch Hotel has a bicycle garage in which you can park your own bike before strolling through the city. You can find tour suggestions and more information on the long-distance routes in the official bicycle brochure by the Rothenburg Tourism Office (only German edition).