Radnetz Deutschland -
The German Cycle Network
The Radnetz Deutschland (the German cycle network) consists of twelve long-distance cycle routes and the 'German Unity Cycle Route'. The Radnetz Deutschland connects all regions of Germany. The D-routes lead over existing long-distance cycle routes or signposted bike networks and are selected so as to connect an interesting starting point to an interesting destination. more...
Merchant shipping and the Wadden Sea are the most important elements of this route, which touches or crosses the estuaries of the rivers Ems, Weser and Elbe with practically no inclines.
D-Route 1 is part of the North Sea Cycle Route (Eurovelo-Route 12), which leads over 7,000 km through eight countries, always along the North Sea.
Long-distance cycling routes: D-Route 1 lies entirely on the North Sea Cycle Route.
Ferry ports, sailing, numerous beach resorts, varied coastal landscapes, historic cities - these are the formative impressions of the German Baltic Sea coast. Therefore, in contrast to the North Sea coast route, this route also has slightly hilly passages. On the Baltic Sea coast, miles of fine sandy beaches, bird paradises, cliffs and pristine coastal forest are waiting to be explored. Picturesque traditional seaside resorts line up with venerable Hanseatic cities like pearls on a chain.
The D-Route 2 is part of the Baltic Sea Cycle Route (Eurovelo-Route 10), which leads over 9,000 km through nine countries, always along the Baltic Sea.
Long-distance cycling routes: D-Route 2 lies entirely on the Baltic Sea Cycle Route.
Diversity and variety are the key words for your bike tour on D-Route 3. This D-route runs entirely on the German section of the European Cycle Route R1 across Germany. From the Dutch border at Vreden, D-Route 3 leads you through the Münsterland, East Westphalia, Weserbergland and Solling to the northern edge of the Harz. From there you cross the Magdeburg Börde towards the Elbe with the UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Dessau-Roßlau and Lutherstadt Wittenberg and the Middle Elbe Biosphere Reserve. On your way to Berlin you will get to know the Fläming hills and experience Potsdam and the capital of Germany from a cyclist's perspective. The contrast to the pulsating city life further east is provided by the vast landscapes of Märkische Switzerland and the Oderbruch, where you reach the Polish border at Küstrin-Kietz.
D-Route 3 is part of the European Cycle Route R1 from the French Channel coast to St. Petersburg. It is also part of the Eurovelo-Route 2 (Capitals Route) from Dublin to Moscow.
Long-distance cycling routes: D-Route 3 lies entirely on the European cycle route R1.
The Mittelland-Route follows the belt of densely forested low mountain ranges that run through Germany from west to east. Due to the topography of this region, some athletic skill is required for the route. The urban highlights are Aachen, Bonn, the Thuringian classic cities and Dresden.
Long-distance cycling routes: The D-Route 4 uses different long-distance cycling routes: In North Rhine-Westphalia it leads via different routes, but is completely signposted with the D-Route logo 4. In Rhineland-Palatinate, it follows the Siegradweg. In Hesse, D-Route 4 is initially on the Hessian long-distance cycle routes R2 and R4 and then follows the 'German Unity Cycle Route' and the Hessian long-distance cycle route R7 to the border region of Thuringia, where the route first uses the Werra Valley cycle route and, briefly, the Herkules-Wartburg cycle route. In Hesse and Thuringia, the route is again signposted with the D route logo. Most of the D-Route 4 in Thuringia is the Thüringer Städtekette cycle route. In Saxony, the route is continued in the Saxon City Route, the cycle route on the Silberstrasse and the Saxon Central Mountains cycle route.
This is a route for connoisseurs and for friends of a good wine and a good beer! The vineyards Saar, Mosel, Rhine, Rheingau, Rheinhessen and Franconia are crossed, then the cyclist comes to the Franconian beer paradise. D-Route 5 always runs along rivers until shortly before its eastern end in Upper Franconia and is therefore practically slope-free up to shortly after Bamberg.
Long-distance cycling routes: D-Route 5 follows the Saar and from the confluence of the Saar and the Moselle the Moselradweg. Between the mouth of the Moselle and the mouth of the Main D-Route 5 is located on the Rheinradweg and then follows the Mainradweg almost to the source near Bischofsgrün in Bavaria. From there, the route lies on the Brückenradweg Bavaria-Bohemia. In Hesse and Bavaria, the route is fully signposted with the D route logo.
D-Route 6 begins well before the source of the Danube, namely on the Swiss border near Basel. It leads through two striking cultural areas of southern Germany, the differences of which can be experienced on the route: the Swabian / Alemannic on the Upper Rhine and Upper Danube and the Bavarian from Donauwörth. The route requires a few climbs between Lake Constance and Oberdonau, otherwise it largely follows the course of the river.
Long-distance cycling routes: D-Route 6 lies entirely on the Danube Cycle Route (Donauradweg) and is signposted with the D-Route logo.
The pilgrim route is part of the Eurovelo-Route 3 from Scandinavia to Santiago de Compostela in Spain. It crosses large cities such as Hamburg, Bremen, Düsseldorf and Cologne. The route has virtually no ascents, except for a few hills in Schleswig-Holstein, between Osnabrück and Münster and before Aachen.
Long-distance cycling routes: The first stage of D-Route 7 leads via the Hamburg-Bremen long-distance cycling route, followed by the Bremen - Osnabrück connection via the western part of the Brückenradweg. In North Rhine-Westphalia the pilgrim route is again signposted all the way to Aachen with the D-route logo.
The German Rhine between Emmerich and Basel is one of the most important inland waterways in the world and an industrial zone of global standing. As a cyclist, you shouldn't expect a natural idyll here except on the Middle Rhine. The route runs partly on both sides of the Rhine, crossing large cities and industrial zones. Behind Karlsruhe until you reach Basel the environment in the Upper Rhine Valley is more peaceful, between Basel and Lake Constance the route runs along the Upper Rhine.
D-Route 8 is part of Eurovelo-Route 15, which follows the Rhine over 1,500 km from the source to the North Sea.
Long-distance cycling routes: D-Route 8 lies entirely on the Rhine Cycle Route and is for the most part signposted with the D-Route logo.
This route takes you across Germany along the most direct north-south line and contains Germany's essential landscapes and several cultural and historic sights: the North German Plain, the low mountain ranges, the Romantic Route with its historic towns such as Rothenburg ob der Tauber, the plains of the Lech Valley, and the foothills of the Bavarian Alps. The route is not overly challenging as there are virtually no ascents until shortly after Fulda.
Long-distance cycling routes: The D-Route 9 is located in Bavaria on the cycle routes Romantische Straße (Romantic Road), Mainradweg and Rhön-Sinntal Radweg. In Hesse, the route uses the Hessian long-distance cycle paths R2 and R1 (signage with D-route logo). From Northern Hesse, D-Route 9 corresponds to the Weser Cycle Route.
The Elbe is Germany's largest river with a largely natural course, navigable but not regulated and channeled. In the middle part of the Elbe there are still large floodplain areas with extensive flood zones. The main section between Hamburg and Dresden is one of the busiest cycle routes in Germany. With the exception of short passages in Saxony, the D-Route 10 is practically slope-free.
The culture on the Elbe is shaped by the large towns of Hamburg, Magdeburg and Dresden, but also by the small towns such as Stade, Lauenburg, Hitzacker, Havelberg, Meissen and Tangermünde. Immerse yourself in German cultural history along a stream close to nature.
There is a true variety of nature experiences along the Elbe. There is a lot to discover by bike from the rich bird life in the Elbe valley meadows, the forested nature reserve near Lauenburg, the nature-loving cultural landscape 'Altes Land' to the Wadden Sea National Park.
Long-distance cycling routes: D-Route 10 corresponds to the Elberadweg
In addition to D-Route 9, this is the second major north-south crossing in Germany. It shows cyclists large eastern regions: the lowlands of Mecklenburg and Brandenburg, the low mountain ranges of the Thuringian Forest and Upper Franconia, the gently undulating Lower and Upper Bavaria, the edge of the Alps. Urban highlights are Berlin, Nuremberg and Munich, but also many interesting medium-sized cities such as Rostock, Potsdam, Halle, Jena or Bamberg. In the Franconian area between Hof and Kulmbach, a few sporty passages have to be mastered.
Long-distance cycling routes: The D-Route 11 follows the Berlin-Copenhagen cycling route from the Baltic Sea to Berlin, then joins the D-Route 3 to Bernburg in Saxony-Anhalt on the European Cycle Route R1. From Bernburg, D-Route 11 is the Saaleradweg, which is also signposted with the D-Route logo in Thuringia and Bavaria. In Bavaria, a number of different routes of the Bavarian Cycle Network (Bayernnetz für Radler) form the D-Route 11, with the D-route logo being signposted all the way.
Germany's easternmost border region is a sparsely populated, flat river valley region. The largest city that is driven through, Frankfurt an der Oder, has just 60,000 inhabitants. In the middle part between Schwedt and Forst, roads and railway lines are already aligned with the nearby metropolis of Berlin. In the south of the route, for example from Guben, you can recognize the settlement area of the only ethnic minority in Germany, the Slavic-speaking Sorbs, from the bilingual town signs. There are no gradients, but there are some extensive industrial areas of former GDR combines to pass.
Long-distance cycle routes: D-Route 12 corresponds to the Oder-Neiße cycle route
The German Unity Cycle Route, which connects Bonn and Berlin as historic start and destination locations, enriches the cycle route network in Germany with a new, attractive offer. At the same time, it also symbolizes the growing together of Germany after reunification.
The German Unity Cycle Route combines cycling tourism with digitality and electromobility and thus contributes to a new kind of cycling experience. It combines the joy of technical progress with the experience of nature, culture and history.
Further Information: www.radweg-deutsche-einheit.de