From Talheim to Marbach and back

From the town hall square in Talheim, we ride past the pharmacy and use the pedestrian crossing to the school. On "In den Hofwiesen" street and Bachstraße we go downstream of the Schozach after 1.2 km to the small animal breeders’ grounds. Here we turn left, cross the Schozach and, passing the new sports field, take the first climb of this route. After 400 m we reach the height of the new development Mühläcker. Here we turn left into Horkheimer street and take the first exit at the mini roundabout onto Lauffen street. After 50 m at the path junction, the cycle path begins to the right beside the road. At the end of the asphalt, we cross the road and take the straight field path south. After 400 m we turn right and, after a short climb, reach the Lauffen "Burgfeld". We follow the country road to Ilsfeld, take the cycle path a short distance to the left and turn into La-Ferté–Bernard street. Going downhill through the residential area, we turn left before the B-27 bridge and ride towards the Neckar. There we take the cycle path to the right. Via Mühltor street, we reach the old Neckar bridge, which we cross.

After the bridge, we turn left and after 50 m on the main road, we turn left again onto the Neckar valley cycle path. This regional cycle path is well signposted, has no major climbs, and is well developed—mostly asphalted. Past the Lauffen outdoor pool and the boat docks, the path leads on the former "towpath" right along the Neckar. After the vineyards, we see on the opposite side the natural monument Krappenfelsen and two kilometers further the "technical monument" Neckarwestheim nuclear power plant. The Neckar loop before Kirchheim follows—a picturesque section with the steepest vineyards on the right and the majestic Neckar on the left. Through the medieval Kirchheim, the path leads to the station, along the railway, past another power plant into the Roman settlement Walheim. At the edge of town, we pass under B 27. After a short stretch straight ahead, we turn left—over the Enz, which flows here into the Neckar—and reach Besigheim. Its beautiful old town invites you for a separate trip with a longer stay. From the "Kies" grounds, we see on the right the medieval fortifications on the ridge between the Neckar and Enz.

On the embankment, we follow the Neckar loop. On the other side, we see the huge vineyard steep slopes, still topped by the Hessigheim rock gardens, popular with climbers. Over a bridge for pedestrians and cyclists, we reach the other side of the Neckar. At the entrance to Hessigheim, the "rock cellar" invites a break. In Hessigheim, we stay on this side of the Neckar, follow the Neckar loop out to Mundelsheim and further towards Pleidelsheim. On the way, we can look right and spot the church and castle of Kleiningersheim above the Neckar. Behind Pleidelsheim, the cycle path runs along the state road. Before the Neckar canal, we turn left, continue along steep vineyards, and cross the Neckar to Benningen. We turn left, reach the railway bridge after 1 km, and then cross the pedestrian and cyclist bridge. Signs for a beer garden indicate a possible rest stop.

On the way back, the cycle path leads a short stretch north along a busy road. But soon we can leave it to the right and follow the stream Murr first to Murr and then to Steinheim, the site of the "Homosteinheimensis". From here, we follow the Bottwar along Kleinbottwar to the small town Großbottwar. A detour to the town center with the half-timbered buildings of the old town is worthwhile. The cycle path continues via Sauserhof to Oberstenfeld with the striking Lichtenberg castle. Heading left towards Beilstein, we already see the next castle from afar. The Hohenbeilstein castle invites a separate visit with its falconry and great flight demonstrations.

In Beilstein, there is one last slight uphill. After leaving the town, the Neckar-Alb cycle path leads downhill on the former narrow-gauge railway’s track into the Schozach valley, past Auenstein to Ilsfeld. At the Öttinger mill and the Schozach railway small station, it rolls downstream almost alone to the entrance of Talheim with the idyllic Tauchstein lake. From here, it is a good kilometer to the starting point of the route at the town hall square in Talheim.