Dreiland-Radweg
Overview
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Distance 60 km
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Ascent 310 m
Intro
This section leads through Germany and France all of the way. See «International routes» for further information.
Description
Mulhouse is in the far south of Alsace. The first recorded mention of the city, which is nestled between Vogesen and the Rhine, dates back to 803 CE under the name of Mulinhuson. It owes its name to a mill that had been built there. The rather small old town is towered over by the imposing Temple Saint-Étienne church with its 97-metre belfry. Beyond the old town, you can expect more hustle and bustle. Following the river Ill, you will glimpse the towns of Illzach and Kingersheim, before crossing the Old Rhone–Rhine Canal into the forested region of Harthwald. The route leads in a straight line for several kilometres through the Forêt Domaniale de la Hardt-Nord. Feast your eyes on the colourful flowers along the way and the bumpy terrain is strewn with countless acorns.
It’s worth taking a brief detour to the village of Ottmarsheim. The abbey church is a listed building of significant historic importance and dates back to the 11th century. You can find it on Romanische Strasse, a holiday route opened in 1999 that connects 120 listed buildings from the Romanesque period. Keep going straight and you will arrive at Bantzenheim. The cornfields in the flat plains beyond need a great a deal of water. Umpteen sprinklers quench the dry soil with “liquid gold”. A little further on, you will cross the Rhine twice, once over the canal and once over the original course of the river. The border between France and Germany runs through the middle of this bridge.
Just like Alsace, Markgräflerland is also a winemaking region. The gardens along the German side of the Rhine at Neuenburg look inviting. Jays zip across the cycle path – evidently it’s not just cyclists who appreciate the 1,069-kilometre Rheinradweg (Rhine Cycle Path), stretching from the river’s source in the Swiss Alps to its mouth in the North Sea. You can recuperate in the hot mineral baths of Bad Bellingen before the stage continues via Schliegen to Liel, which is known for its mineral water that comes from a spring in the woods. The next place to rest along the way is Kandern, known for its historic steam railway (which runs on Sundays from May to October) and as a starting point for hikes in the southwestern part of the Black Forest.
This stage of the cycling route also passes by Hammerstein, one of the stops on the legendary Kander Valley Railway. The historic railway carriage, which served as a quaint dining car for 40 years, was brought back into service fairly recently. Rümmingen is along the Kander Valley route too. The gentle hills of this agricultural landscape make for perfect cycling. Rötteln Castle towers over Lörrach. Perched atop its spur, the town’s main landmark keeps watch over Germany for many miles around – as well as Switzerland and France.
An enjoyable tour includes the careful planning of the same. Please inform yourself in advance at the local information center about the route and weather conditions. Depending on the season and weather conditions, this route may be blocked or interrupted
| Start location |
Mulhouse
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|---|---|
| Destination |
Lörrach
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| Ascent |
310 m
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| Descent |
325 m
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| Distance |
60 km
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| Distance on natural surface |
1 km
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| Physical requirements |
Medium
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Quick Facts
Route number
