Franconia, in northern Bavaria, looks as though it has been plucked straight from the pages of a Brothers Grimm fairy tale. With its castles and ancient towns that are scattered amidst swathes of thick forest and countryside, Franconia is known for its beauty. However the region is famous for the quality of beers produced. With over 80 breweries, most of which are located around the historic town of Bamberg, there is lots to learn about beer. Other than learning about the taste, there are also opportunities to find out about the steps in the traditional brewing process or the name of the patron saint of brewing: knowledge that will bolster any self-respecting beer drinker's pub conversations. 

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[caption id="attachment_19499" align="aligncenter" width="900"] Rothemberg[/caption]

In a Nutshell

Where is it? The Bicycle Beer Trail of Bavaria takes in a number of Germany's key beer producing towns and cities in a route that forms a loop. The brewing towns and cities are linked by a combination of rolling country roads and well kept cycle paths. Starting and ending in Nuremberg, the 5 days between sees the route pass through Bamberg, Neustadt, Rothenberg and Ansbach. Distance?  295 - 340 km. Grading? With daily distances ranging from a minimum of 50 km to a maximum of 80 km this tour is designed to build up a thirst. The long daily distances make a few of the days quite challenging and the moderate grading reflects this. [caption id="attachment_19498" align="aligncenter" width="900"] Prost![/caption]

Why Cycle Here?

• Explore Bamberg's quiet lanes and alleys whilst sampling some of the finest beers Bavaria has to offer. Dating back to the Holy Roman Empire, the beautiful townscape miraculously made it through the Thirty Years War and World War 2 unscathed. UNESCO declared Bamberg's historic town centre a World Heritage Site in 1993 and we have set aside a full day in order to explore the place. Having taken in the sites we strongly recommend trying Aecht Schlenkerla Rauchbier, Bamberg's most famous smokebeer.
• The charming towns of Nuremberg and Rothenberg are the other standout locations to look forward to. Each is an alluring mix of breweries, beer halls, and history. Explore the cultural sights, or choose to relax with a beer or a kaffee und kuchen after a hard day in the saddle.
• Cycle the Deutsche Burgenstrasse. Forgetting about the beer for a minute, it should be noted that the scenery in Franconia is also stellar. The Deutsche Burgenstrasse or Castle Road takes you past ever-changing scenery, as well as a number of imposing castles such as Colmberg and the moated Lichtenau.

[caption id="attachment_19500" align="aligncenter" width="900"] Bavaria's Rolling Roads[/caption]

Planning and Preparation

You can start your Bavarian Beer adventure on any date between May and early October. June and July are consistently popular with temperatures in Bavaria often hitting the 30°C / 86°F. The latter half of September is also a popular time to visit due to the German school holidays finishing in the second week of the month - throughout September temperatures hover around the 20°C / 68°F mark.

Getting to / from Nuremberg

By Air: Nuremberg Airport has limited links with a small number of European cities. Munich Airport is served by most major international and low-cost carriers, and offers a much wider choice of connections. Munich Airport is a 2hr 6min journey train journey to Nuremberg, changing once at the central Munich station. Private transfers from Munich Airport to Nuremberg can be booked in advance, or alternatively a taxi on arrival will cost around €300 for a 4 person taxi. with journey time around 2 hours. You have the option to bring your own bike, please discuss transfer options with us, as larger vehicles will need to be booked in advanced. [caption id="attachment_19501" align="aligncenter" width="900"] Nuremberg Square[/caption]

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If you have any queries about the Bicycle Beer Trail of Bavaria or would like more information on the range of cycling holidays we offer in Germany, get in touch with a member of the team on info@macsadventure.com.