Thuringia

Arrive in good time, because Eisenach has some highlights in store for you. Probably the town's most famous sight is Wartburg Castle. A visit to the castle will take you back to the legendary Middle Ages and the time of the Reformation. But you can also experience history up close in the city itself. Visit the Luther House, the birthplace of the composer Bach or find out more about the town's vehicle construction tradition at the Automobile World Eisenach.

Discover the diverse flora and fauna of the Free State of Thuringia on the Werra cycle path. Depending on your mood, you can choose between the suggested tour or a 20-kilometre shorter variant. However, you will only pass the wild and romantic Werra breakthrough valley to Treffurt, where you can visit the imposing Normannstein Castle, if you choose the longer option. Here you can follow in the footsteps of Thomas Müntzer or visit the accessible town wall from the Middle Ages.

You cycle via the rose town of Bad Langensalza to the state capital Erfurt. You can take a detour to visit the Hainich National Park and then continue along the Unstrut cycle path. Why not take a break in Bad Langensalza and recharge your batteries for the rest of the route in one of the numerous gardens and parks. We recommend a detour to the rose garden or the Japanese garden. In Erfurt, you can end the day with a leisurely stroll through the medieval city centre.

Enjoy the journey through the rural hinterland to Weimar. There is plenty of culture waiting for you in the classic city of Weimar: the city palace, Goethe's garden house, Schiller's residence, the Liszt House and not forgetting the impressive Belvedere Palace, with its considerable collection of arts and crafts.

Today you make a detour into the wonderful Weimarer Land: you leave Weimar in a northerly direction on the Ilm cycle path. There are plenty of opportunities to get off your bike and take a break in a shady park or a romantic castle: Tiefurt Castle - the country residence of Duchess Anna Amalia -, Kromsdorf Castle or the Wieland Estate in Oßmannstedt are just some of the highlights of this tour. Plan a little more time in the bell and art town of Apolda.

Enjoy the ride along the Ilm valley cycle path via Bad Berka and Kranichfeld to Stadtilm. The small town between the Thuringian Basin and the Thuringian Forest has one of the oldest town centres in eastern Germany. See the medieval old town centre for yourself! The journey continues to the 1300-year-old ‘puppeteer town’ of Arnstadt with its Bach Church.

Discover the Thuringian Burgenland! The most impressive are certainly the so-called ‘Drei Gleichen’. According to legend, a ball of lightning ignited all three castles at once. The blazing flames were visible from afar and left behind mysterious ruins for modern-day explorers with sweeping views across the Thuringian Basin. Your journey along the Thuringian chain of towns takes you back to Eisenach via the former royal seat of Gotha with the Friedenstein castle complex and the Ekhof theatre.

After breakfast, individual return journey or start of your extension.