Let’s go for a nice bike ride to discover the Rhineland! Do you know where it is? We are here in the north of Alsace (more or less at the level of Haguenau), in the zone located at the edge of the Rhine. A corner which is not the most known but deserves nevertheless largely to be discovered. It is not very touristy, it is not the type of landscape that one thinks of first when one evokes Alsace, and yet… the Rhine is one of the flagship elements of the region.
Easy bike loops
The Rhineland offers numerous from 7 to 40 km. There is something for everyone! What do they have in common? They are accessible to all audiences. Indeed, the region is very flat and there are no difficulties to be expected on that side. In addition, there are beautiful bike paths that allow you to be safe. The Rhineland is therefore ideal for family bike rides.
Circuit “The Cross-Border
I tested the cycle tour called “Le transfrontalier”, which is 39km long. As you may have guessed, this loop allows us to play the border jumping game by cycling to our German neighbors. That’s one of the things I like about the Rhine region: the possibility togo to Germany easily by land or by ferry. The opportunity to make a small trip very easily!
The loop starts in the beautiful marina of Offendorf. You immediately feel like you are on vacation with all the boats on the water! This is also where you can rent bicycles if you don’t have any.
If you follow the direction of the loop, you will start by following the Rhine on the French side. We are here on theEurovélo 15 and we go along natural reserves, it is pleasant. Then we take the ferry to Drussenheim (which is free of charge, also for bicycles) to cross into Germany.
On the German side, the bicycle paths along the Rhine are often not paved. I advise you not to choose too thin tires: prefer the VTC to the road bike, it will be much more comfortable.
You can walk along the Rhine or in the typical landscapes of the Rhine area, between alluvial forests and water bodies constituted by former “dead” arms of the Rhine. It’s wild and really pretty, it makes for a very nice walk!
Finally, it is the return to France via the Freistett/Gambsheim dam. The return to Offendorf is done by a small road which is not particularly pretty but which is not very busy.
Before returning to the port, you can stop in the center of Offendorf to visit a barge that houses the museum of inland navigation. Offendorf was indeed the largest village of boatmen in eastern France!
Lunch or snack on the waterfront at the Port of Offendorf
Here is a place where you can take a well-deserved break after your cycling tour: the marina of Offendorf and its Nautic restaurant. The food is very good (the homemade fish and chips is great!), and it’s also a good place to enjoy an ice cream (for the greedy, the whipped cream is homemade), all with a nice view on the boats.
And if you have time and energy left, you can even rent a canoe, paddle or boat to go for a ride on the water!
I liked
- Landscapes of the Rhine area
- Easy loop
- Gourmet break at the port of Offendorf
I liked a little less
- Nothing!
My photos of the tour “Le Transfrontalier
Practical information
Departure and arrival
Marina Offendorf (with the possibility to rent bicycles!)
Features
- Distance: 39km
- Difference in altitude: about 100m
- Duration: about 3 hours (without breaks!)
Access
By car
Offendorf is located in:
- 30km from Strasbourg (about 25 minutes)
- 95km from Colmar (about 1h15)
- 135km from Mulhouse (about 1h30)
By public transport
You can calculate your route on Fluo Grand Est.
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