Nature-Technology-Fun

From Weilheim to the Radome

The route starts with the northern route. At the parking lot of Weilheim city hall, respectively at the train station, the trip begins idyllically at the calm flowing Ammer river leading out of town. After a short stretch along the Ammer, it goes left through a beautiful long avenue. Then it continues on very long straight paths – typical for the Weilheim moor. The once large-scale marshy moor, part of the moors in the area of the former Ammersee, now appears as a colorful mosaic. Agricultural use, meadows, birch moor forests, and willow bushes alternate. In between, water surfaces and still today peat extraction takes place. This mosaic of habitats is of great importance as breeding, resting and feeding area, especially for birds. The terrain is pleasantly flat, the paths wide, very clear and not heavily frequented – a guarantee for enjoyable cycling through the beautiful moorland. Along the way, Roman milestones testify to the "Brennerstraße" that ran here. The "Brennerstraße" was, after the "Via Claudia Augusta" over the Reschen Pass, the second important Roman road connection over the Alps. With its low summit altitude of only 1370 meters, the road built 1800 years ago developed into the most important Alpine traffic route to this day. The former road shows as a slight elevation in the flat terrain. It runs from Wielenbach westward, makes a bend northwest west of the field path on which a milestone stands, and then runs straight towards Raisting. After about 10 kilometers through the Weilheim moor, the view suddenly opens to the Raisting earth station. Pure contrast offers this image of the parabolic antennas with mirror diameters of up to 32m to the baroque church towers that peek out from several places. The path leads past several huge antennas directly to the radome, a dome of almost 40m height under which the antenna rests that in 1969 received the live transmission of the moon landing and distributed it throughout Europe. The radome is open for visits at certain times. Outside these times, information boards at the radome and along a circular path provide much interesting information. Fun for kids: an acoustic track shows how to communicate over long distances via antennas.

From the Radome via Stillern back to Weilheim

After the radome, the path continues into the village of Raisting, where several inns invite you to rest. A section along the railway track, the path turns left away from the tracks in the village and goes through an avenue that reveals the view of the baroque church tower and the maypole. Following the signposting, the path leads out of the village over an idyllic wide meadow to Stillern – a small hamlet with a charm of its own created by farmhouses, the chapel, and the beautiful beer garden. After the break, it goes refreshed into a high forest. The slightly gravel road is very wide and easy to ride – possibly dusty in very dry weather. After the forest section, the path winds over the beautiful wild-grown meadows to a barrier. Then it continues on the cycle path along the federal road. After a short stretch along the road, the path turns left and demands a few elevation meters directly from the cyclist. On the plain, it continues quietly over wide fields away from noise until antennas can be seen again in the distance. However, these do not belong to the Raisting earth station. It is the ground station of the German Aerospace Center in Lichtenau. The route does not continue to this station, but turns right. After a few kilometers, it gently goes downhill until the path finally leads back into the wonderful long avenue from the beginning of the trip. From here, the now familiar path along the Ammer leads back to the starting point. Anyone already happy and fulfilled from the beautiful northern route here is offered a final stop in the lively old town of Weilheim. The pedestrian zone invites you to stroll, visit the church or enjoy a nice ice cream. Cultural events often take place here. For water lovers, a swimming stop a little outside the city is offered at Dietlhofer See.

From Weilheim to Peißenberg

Anyone still not satisfied will continue along the beautiful path by the Ammer. It goes out of Weilheim. At the edge of the village, the playground at the Naturfreundehaus invites you to rest. After a few kilometers, the church tower spire of Polling flashes up from the left. Shortly after, another highlight awaits. The bike route passes directly by the art project STOA169. 121 tall columns, each individually designed by an internationally renowned artist, united under one roof. In the middle of the natural landscape. Incredibly impressive and a magnet for guests from around the world. The art object is freely accessible and always experienceable. Polling has even more to offer, so a detour is worthwhile. Be it the monastery church, the beer garden in the monastery inn, or the old brickyard. But also a look into the exhibition rooms of HK Engineering delights not only oldtimer hearts. The ride continues along the Ammer. South of Polling, the path becomes more winding again. Always along the river, it winds gently through the beautiful and original forests. Pure idyll. South of Peißenberg, it is time to say goodbye to the rippling companion. It goes into the market town. The highlight for water lovers: the Rigi Rutsch'n offers water fun for the whole family. Following the signs, it passes many residences until the path turns into a cycle path, which beautifully passes a large part of Peißenberg away from streets and settlements – until it reaches the main street. There, following the signs, it goes to the train station. An hourly train goes to Weilheim for those who want to shorten the route from here. Further it goes toward Tiefstollen to the mining museum. A former tunnel can be passed during a guided tour. Even a blasting is simulated. If you're lucky, you catch a day of the Bockerlbahn behind the Tiefstollen hall and can take a ride.

From Peißenberg via Paterzell to Weilheim

The ride continues gently uphill from the mining museum through a settlement out of town and follows the course of the railway line for a few kilometers – until it finally parts from it and turns left. It goes into a magnificent natural landscape characterized by wide meadows and adjacent forests through which the route leads. After leaving the forest, the gaze soon rests on an orange-white striped wind sock and many parked sailplanes and motor planes. Perhaps you catch the moment when a glider is pulled upwards by the winch. A hiss of air is heard. Nothing more. Those fascinated by this sight have a bench ready. Those who want to experience it for themselves are recommended to get into the cockpit for a round flight. With or without a round flight in the luggage, the route continues. Gently uphill to a hill with wide meadows, the path leads to the federal road. Along this, it continues on the cycle path to Tankenrain. The cycle path here is narrow and runs directly past house entrances, so it should be driven carefully here. Leaving the village, the final piece of the cycle path runs parallel to the road towards Weilheim. On the right, the expanse of the beautiful natural landscape opens one last time. The Alpine chain on the horizon provides the perfect panorama. Perhaps for one last photo. After a few kilometers, Weilheim is reached. A piece back north along the now well-known Ammer leads back to the starting point. Once reached, one can look back with pride and happiness on a wonderful route through a varied natural landscape, packed with extraordinary highlights of technology, art, history, and sport. And those who have only ridden one of the two loops will surely want to add the other soon.