Germany is big and diverse. If you want to cycle in Germany, you actually have endless choices. You can cycle through the hilly countryside in the Eifel Or, for example, the Teutoburgerwald driving. In the Black Forest you have steep climbs and the mid-mountain range can be found in Saxony-Anhalt . When you think of a cycling holiday, Bavaria is usually skipped. Best known for Munich, Oktoberfest and Bayern football club, but less popular as a cycling destination. This is unjustified. You can cycle beautifully in Berchtesgaden, for example. At this National Park, you can make beautiful tours on both gravel and road bikes. Or get a Mozartkügel in Salzburg. Or....naja. It is beautiful there. Not for nothing was former leader of Nazi Germany Adolf Hitler in love with this place. Berchtesgaden does have a double connotation because of this. Stunningly beautiful, but with a dark edge.
Berchtesgaden
You have to do some searching on the map, as Berchtesgaden is tucked far away in south-east Germany. The national park is stuck against the border with Austria and the town is a little further inland. The village and its surroundings are fairytale-like, especially at sunrise and sunset. The best view of the mountains and the valley is from the Kehlsteinhaus. This is Adolf Hitler's former eagle's nest, which now serves as a restaurant. Because of its history, it is also popular with tourists and day-trippers. It is a reminder of this wry past, of this place. For a stay in the former epicentre of the 'Third Reich', check out Explorer Hotel Berchtesgaden. Solid, designer rooms, furnished for adventurers, so plenty of options to rinse and stow your belongings after a nice ride.
Rossfeld Panorama
One of the most beautiful spots and perhaps the one to recommend is the Rossfeld Panoramastrasse. Here you drive along a magnificent road with hairpin bends with a view.... Actually, this is almost unusual by German standards. On this stretch of mountain panorama, you have quite a few altimeters to climb and don't be surprised, as the steepest rise here is 13%. You cover about 825 altimeters in 10 kilometres. That almost makes you want to put your foot down and enjoy the view for a while. You end up at an altitude of 1560 metres above sea level. You also ride through Austria for a little bit here and you also have a bizarrely beautiful view of the Hochkönig of 2900 metres altitude.
Hinterbrand - Konigsee
What's in a name. That it's going to burn if you ride this climb, then you will definitely be on fire. Because over a 5-kilometre length, you'll arrive at an average of 11.2% with an outlier to 20(!)%. That's really only if you want to hurt yourself really badly. Because to call this fun, that's another thing. You can then gorgeous cycling in Berchtesgaden, but this is different.
Further on, you also have the opportunity to ride towards the beautiful Königssee. There you will really have to get the gravel bike out of the suitcase. You can then try a nice route around the lake. Just keep in mind that in this part of the national park, you have to cycle on the bike paths. This is mainly to avoid bothering hikers. Königssee is also the end point (or the starting point, whichever you prefer) of the famous Lake Constance - Königssee route.
Austria at your fingertips
We had another nice loop for our round trip through Tyrol stuck to it. Because surely that is the charm of this region, that on both the 'left' and the 'right' side you briefly cross the border with Austria can cross. There, of course, the possibilities are again endless. The climb to Hirschbichl is doable from Germany, but beware: the 4.2% average can't quite disguise the fact that you get a small 20% stretch. Afterwards, however, the reward is extra nice, as the descent to Weissbach is one for daredevils. So buckle up! Once down, you ride relatively flat back into Germany via AU and Unken.
Berchtesgaden
So it is wonderful cycling in Berchtesgaden and its surroundings. You'll have to make an effort, though, as some of the beautiful spots can only be reached by gravel bike. Getting there is not easy either. The nearest airport is near Salzburg, but connecting to Germany is tricky then. By car, it's a 10-hour tuff ride from Utrecht. By bike it is an option, but then you have 1000 kilometres under the tyres.
