German-French cycling pleasure route "Wine and Terroir"

Our tips for 3-day routes:

Stage 1: Alsace-Baden (approx. 172 km)

We ride the route as described below from Schweigen via Wissembourg, Seltz, Iffezheim to the southernmost point of the route at Bühl. From there it goes towards Kuppenheim. However, between Kuppenheim and Rastatt we leave the large circular route. Instead, we ride through Rastatt and along the Murg river until we meet the Rhine Cycle Route (EuroVelo15). We continue northwards on this route and take the Neuburgweier-Neuburg ferry. On the Palatine side, it then goes via the PAMINA Lautertal cycle path through the Bienwald forest and subsequently via the Fassbodentour back to the starting point, the German Wine Gate in Schweigen.

Stage 2: Baden (approx. 106 km)

The tour starts at the Baroque palace Bruchsal in the palace garden. From here we start as described below and ride the actual pleasure route to Karlsdorf. Here we leave the large circular route and keep left at Karlsdorf station towards the town center. At the roundabout, we meet the signage with the little asparagus man again: the Tour de Spargel. It leads us along the Pfinz river through the communities of Neuthard and Spöck. From here we follow the everyday cycling network further south along Stutenseer Allee into the fan-shaped city Karlsruhe. A rest in Karlsruhe palace park is recommended before continuing to Durlach. Here we meet the Baden Wine Cycle Route again and thus our large circular route. We follow this northwards via Weingarten and Untergrombach back to Bruchsal Palace.

Stage 3: South Palatinate (approx. 114 km)

The starting point of this circular route is Bad Bergzabern. Here we immediately leave our large circular route. Via the Fassbodentour 2, the Petronella Rhine Cycle Route and the "From Farm to Farm" cycle path it goes via Oberhausen, Hergersweiler, Winden and Freckenfeld to Kandel. From Kandel we follow the Kraut-und-Rüben cycle route via Hayna, Herxheim, Offenbach, Ottersheim, Knittelsheim, Bellheim and Zeiskam to Lustadt. In Lustadt we meet the large circular route again. From here it goes - as described below in the large overall route - along the Kraut-und-Rüben cycle route via Weingarten, Schwegenheim to Freimersheim. From here we follow the large circular route back to our starting point in Bad Bergzabern.

Route description of the entire route:
Start and finish point is Schweigen-Rechtenbach:

We start our tour at the German Wine Gate in Schweigen. From here you cycle along the B38 southwards towards the German-French border.

We cross the border on the RD264 towards Wissembourg on the cycle path. In Wissembourg it goes through the hyper-center Rue Bahnacker, Rue Nationale, Quai du 24 Novembre, Faubourg de Bitche. Afterwards we leave Wissembourg on Boulevard Clémenceau (RD334). We turn right onto RD77 towards Rott, cycle through Rott and follow the path to Cleebourg. In Cleebourg, we follow the signs towards the center. We turn left at Hotel Keimberg into Rue du Moulin, then take Rue des Vignes and are now cycling through the vineyards. Then we turn right and immediately left, then right again. Afterwards, turn left towards Oberhoffen-lès-Wissembourg. In Oberhoffen-lès-Wissembourg we turn left and take the main road. Then turn right into Rue des Vignes and cycle along the vineyards. Afterwards, we turn right onto RD3 and then onto RD264 towards Wissembourg. At the roundabout we keep right towards Lauterbourg and follow the IC 51 sign to Scheibenhard. We cycle on the PAMINA Lautertal cycle path on the German side to Lauterbourg. In Lauterbourg we follow EuroVelo 15 (EV15) along the cycle path to Seltz and take the ferry from Seltz to Rastatt-Plittersdorf.

From crossing the Rhine at Rastatt-Plittersdorf, we follow the PAMINA Rhine meadows cycle path southwards. Past the Iffezheim dam and Baden-Airpark, we follow the Rhine meadows cycle path to Greffern. Here we change to the PAMINA South cycle path and ride eastwards. We pass several smaller and larger but all idyllic villages and finally reach Bühl. As soon as the PAMINA South cycle path turns left in Bühl, we leave it and follow Leopoldstraße towards the station and Bühl town center. We pass under the station and follow Eisenbahnstraße past the Stadtgarten to the church and town hall. Here in the center of Bühl, a generous break is advisable to fully enjoy the city's gastronomic offerings. Refreshed, we continue from the town hall along the main road on the Baden Wine Cycle Route heading north (coming from Eisenbahnstraße, keep left). We now follow it past Sinzheim, some districts of Baden-Baden, Kuppenheim, Rastatt-Rauental to Muggensturm.

Coming from Malsch, we cycle along L607 on the Baden Wine Cycle Route to Ettlingenweier. Through Ettlingenweier it goes on the cycle path via Römerstraße, Morgenstraße and Scheibenhardter Straße to Ettlingen. We cycle over Middelkerker Straße, past Horbachpark Ettlingen onto Baptist-Göring-Straße and then Türkenlouisstraße. Afterwards, we cross the S1/S11 tracks and over the Schlossplatz turn into Marktstraße. Via Marktplatz and under the archway of the town hall, it goes over Alb bridge into Kronenstraße. We continue on Durlacher Straße and shortly before leaving Ettlingen turn left into Alexiusstraße. At the next opportunity, turn right again and follow the Baden Wine Cycle Route along B3 to Wolfartsweier.

Coming from Ettlingen, we follow the Baden Wine cycling and hiking trail towards Karlsruhe. The cycle path leads us under A8 to Wolfartsweier. We follow Steinkreuzstraße past the Zündhüttle, cross Tiefentalstraße and follow B3 for a short time. At Tiefentalgraben, we cross B3 and follow the field path past the sports club Karlsruhe-Aue 1895 e.V. to Basler Tor, through which we pass, then turn right into Amthausstraße. We follow Amthausstraße past Durlach town hall straight onto Zunftstraße, which becomes Bienleinstorstraße. We turn right into Lederstraße and shortly after right into Seboldstraße. At the end of the street, it goes a short way right into Pfinzstraße and immediately left into Hubstraße where the Pfinz river is crossed. We follow Hubstraße to the railway tracks, where you turn right. From here, it goes on the Baden Wine Cycle Route along Alten Weingartener Straße towards Weingarten.

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Detour to the Turmberg with great view and dining option

Everyone who wants to see more of Durlach and go high up should not miss the Turmberg. To do this, from Amthausstraße with Durlach city church and Durlach town hall at the market square, turn right into Pfinztalstraße, then follow Pfinztalstraße past Schlossplatz and then turn left onto Hengstplatz Straße. Stay on this street until the next intersection. There, turn right into Blumentorstraße, this street runs slightly right and then becomes Grötzingerstraße. Follow Grötzingerstraße and turn left at the intersection towards Bruchsal. Now turn into Neßlerstraße and go straight on to the next intersection. At the intersection, turn right into Reichardstraße, this street leads past the Turmberg fountain up to the top of Turmberg. From the Turmberg terrace, there is a wonderful view of the vineyards of the State Winery Durlach, across the Rhine plain and the urban area of Durlach and Karlsruhe. For a culinary break, stop at Hofbistro/Restaurant Anders on the Turmberg. Refreshed, continue on Reichardstraße, which becomes Jean-Ritzert-Straße. Then go straight ahead to the end of the street, then turn right onto Rittnertstraße towards Durlach. Stay on this street and go straight into the town. Then cross B3 and go straight towards Badenerstraße. Along Badenerstraße, at the second intersection, turn left back into Pfinztalstraße. Follow Pfinztalstraße back to the market square, back to the starting point of this sporty detour.

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At the end of Kanalstraße in Weingarten we leave the Baden Wine Cycle Route. Here we turn right into Bahnhofstraße. Then left into Luisenstraße. At the intersection with Burgstraße we go straight into Breitwiesenweg at Breitwiesengraben out of Weingarten along B3 towards Untergrombach. In Untergrombach we turn left into Brühlstraße, right into Weierstraße and then left into Bachstraße. Then turn right and a bit zig-zag with left and right into Ernst-Renz-Straße. At the end of the street we turn left, cross railway tracks, then right immediately after the tracks and then onto Wendelinusstraße. At the end of the street, turn right into Jöß-Fritz-Straße. Here we join the cycle path "Tour de Spargel" with the little asparagus man. This leads us along Untergrombacher Baggersee lake, through the forest to Bruchsal with its castle and castle garden.

From the castle garden, we cycle on the Heidelberg Black Forest Lake Constance Cycle Path northwards. Past vineyards, orchard meadows and Klumpp winery, we follow the federal road to Ubstadt. Just after entering the town, turn left into the residential area and continue following the same signage. We go into a district of Ubstadt: Stettfeld. A visit to the Roman museum not far from the route is worthwhile here.

At the roundabout in the town center, go straight towards the next district of Ubstadt. On the country road, we pass fields into Zeutern.

In the rustic village center at the large left curve, follow the signage of the Kraichgau-Hohenlohe route straight ahead. Parallel runs the 3-Bäche circular route and we follow the little Katzbach to the small but fine Kraichgau town Odenheim. Here we find Heitlinger winery and Adrian Zimmer winery.

At the end of the town, switch to the Riesling Tour, drive to the small wine town Tiefenbach and past Kreuzbergsee lake to Eichelberg. We follow the Riesling Tour further through a large forested area to Waldangelloch and then to Angelbachtal.

A short break in the park of the impressive Eichtersheim water castle is recommended.

The Riesling Tour then leads us further a bit along the federal road to Östringen. Here, too, wineries invite you to tastings. At the intersection in the village center, we leave the Riesling Tour and go straight on to the Baden Wine Cycle Route. Shortly after, we change to the Wohlfühltour and arrive at the spa town Bad Schönborn (Mingolsheim).

After the Catholic church, we turn right and then reach the next community Kronau via the Kraichgau-Hohenlohe route. The tour originates here.

The intersection in Kronau leads us back on the Heidelberg Black Forest Lake Constance Cycle Path and the Tour de Spargel via signage. Along the long Kronauer Allee, past the lake, we cycle through the forest along the Heidelberg Black Forest Lake Constance Cycle Path through the community Forst. After leaving the town and crossing the country road at the next intersection, we leave the Tour de Spargel and cycle right a bit on the everyday cycling network towards Karlsdorf. At the station we keep left towards the town center. At the end of the street, turn right into Alte Bundesstraße. We follow this straight until we reach B35. Then cycle left at the district road until we reach the cycle path "Tour de Spargel" again. We then follow this right to Graben. In Graben, we leave the "Tour de Spargel" and follow Rheinstraße to the left. Along K3533 it goes right through the forest to Rußheim. In Rußheim we follow Rheinstraße. After the recycling center, first right then left until we reach the Rhine Cycle Route (EuroVelo15) on the Baden side. We follow this north to the roadside cycle path B35 over the bridge to Germersheim.

After crossing the bridge we turn left twice in a row, cycle on Rheinsheimer Straße towards the Rhine. Underpass B35, then turn right into Heilbronner Straße and then into Alte Schiffbrückenstraße. Here the Queich river flows into the Rhine. We can enjoy the hustle and bustle on the river at Germersheim Rhine floodplain and refresh ourselves with a delicious portion of fresh fish at the restaurant Rhenania. Here we also enter the Rhine Cycle Route (EuroVelo 15) on the Palatine side. We follow this through Germersheim to Lingenfeld. In Lingenfeld we leave the Rhine Cycle Route and continue along Berliner Straße instead. At the end of the street, turn right through a small alley then along Wörthweg. We cross the intersection and go straight through Lauxengartenstraße. We follow the cycle path along the tracks via Westheim to Lustadt. Shortly before Lustadt, we join the Kraut-und-Rüben cycle route (white plaque with carrot). We follow this marked cycle path and turn right to Lustadt. Always following the Kraut-und-Rüben cycle path, it goes via Weingarten, Schwegenheim to Freisbach.

From Freisbach continue on the Kraut-und-Rüben cycle path westwards via Böbingen to Freimersheim. Here we cycle straight on at the western village exit through the vineyards via Großfischlingen to Edesheim. In Edesheim, we follow the state road on the right and immediately turn left again. The path leads us through the vineyards to Rhodt. Here it goes along the Wine Route via Hainfeld to Burrweiler. In Burrweiler we use the German Wine Route cycle path. We follow this further south through many wine villages along the Southern Wine Route. Even within Bad Bergzabern we follow the German Wine Route cycle path until we leave the town in the south and continue a few kilometres back to the German Wine Gate at Schweigen-Rechtenbach.