Between Aller and Elbe

Route description

The starting point for the route description is at the town hall in Helmstedt. Since the route is planned as a circular path, it can be started at any place you prefer.

From the town hall, you leave Helmstedt heading east and pass through the Brunnental (Bad Helmstedt) to reach Beendorf and thus the Aller cycle path. Along the Aller, you pass Walbeck, from whose Stiftskirche ruins you have an impressive view over the Aller valley, then proceed to Weferlingen with the widely visible keep “Grauer Hermann.”

Shortly after Weferlingen, the course changes and you continue on the Aller-Elbe cycle path heading east. On the following section up to Haldensleben, you can experience numerous cultural assets: Seggerde Castle, Flechtingen Water Castle, Altenhausen Castle, the technical monument Alte Ziegelei, and Hundisburg Castle.

In Haldensleben, cyclists are warmly welcomed at Hotel Behrens.

http://www.hotel-behrens.de/

On the second day of the route, the path leads along the Ohre river to Wolmirstedt with the castle domain and then onward to the waterway crossing. From here, the Elbe is your companion up to Schönebeck.

Halfway there, you should plan some time to visit the city of Magdeburg. Just on the outskirts, you will reach Herrenkrug and Elbauen Park, which includes the Millennium Tower.

Soon after, from the Jerusalem Bridge, you have an impressive view of the Elbe and the city centre of Magdeburg with its many churches. Along the Schleinufer bank, the route goes upstream passing Petriförder and Elbe gauge, perhaps with a short rest at Mückenwirt before covering the remaining 14 km to Schönebeck. Once there, a brief city tour is recommended before settling in for the night.

In Schönebeck, cyclists are warmly welcomed at Hotel Weltrad.

https://www.weltrad.de/quartier/

On the morning of the third day, the path leads westward and reaches the Sülze cycle path at the saltworks in Sülldorf. Wanzleben will delight you with its historic town hall and castle, and on the further way to one of the four sources of the Aller in Eggenstedt lie Meyendorf Monastery and Seehäuser Lake.

From Eggenstedt, the Aller cycle path is your companion again, and after a short detour to the second Aller source in Gehringsdorf, you reach Ummendorf with the castle and Börde museum. For those who find the third stage with 80 km too long, another overnight stay is possible here at the country inn Zur Alten Post.

http://www.gasthof-ummendorf-boerde.de/

The last stage leads via Marienborn with the Orangery, Marien chapel, and St. Marien to the German division memorial Marienborn and then back through the Lappwald forest to the starting point of the route at the town hall in Helmstedt.