The Franconian Saale Cycle Route takes you from Grabfeld through the north of Bavaria to Gemünden am Main. On the way, you’ll cycle through beautiful landscapes along the Franconian Saale river, characterised by picturesque floodplains. Peaceful forests and wide meadows alternate, and pretty towns like Bad Königshofen, Bad Neustadt an der Saale and Bad Kissingen allow you to experience fabulous nature and plenty of culture.

In this Collection, I introduce the 127 kilometre (79 mi) long Franconian Saale Cycle Route, divided into three stages of 34 to 55 kilometres (21 and 34 mi). At each stage destination, you’ll find a good selection of accommodation and plenty of places to stop for refreshments to replenish your energy reserves.

The cycle path begins near the Bavarian-Thuringian border at the source of the Franconian Saale, which rises near Alsleben in Grabfeld. The nearest larger city is Bad Königshofen, which you can reach from Bad Neustadt an der Saale by bus 800. It’s possible to take your bike on the bus. You can reach Bad Neustadt an der Saale by train.

From the source of the river, you’ll ride along the southern edge of the Rhön, following the cheerful loops of the Franconian Saale, mostly heading downhill. Your adventure concludes in Gemünden am Main. Here, you can either catch the train home or continue your journey on the MainRadweg cycle route.