e2e.bike

Cycling adventures across Yorkshire, Britain and beyond

Menu
  • End to Ends
    • Britain
    • Ireland
    • France
    • Spain
    • Portugal
    • Belgium
    • Netherlands
    • Luxembourg
    • Denmark
    • Austria
    • Switzerland
    • Czechia
    • Slovakia
    • Poland
    • Latvia
    • Cuba
    • Sri Lanka
    • Taiwan
    • Isle of Man
    • Faroes
    • Liechtenstein
  • Coast to Coasts
  • Yorkshire Ridings
  • Others
  • Writings
Menu
← PreviousNext →

Germany 5: Rothenburg ob der Tauber to Würzburg

Posted on 10 September 20254 October 2025 by Rob Ainsley

Rothenburg ob der Tauber is not to be confused with Rotenburg an der Fulda, or Rotenburg an der Wümme. And note not just the ‘h’, but the ‘ob’: the picture-postcard Romantic town is ‘over’ the Tauber, whereas the h-less ones are ‘on’ their particular rivers. Rothenburg is high on a bluff above the Tauber, which winds through tree-covered hills, and for the first time since I started under the alps in Füssen, I had some views today. Despite the drizzle.

1566 and all that: Rothenburg ob der Tauber

I had another look round Rothenburg’s old town in the morning, before the tourist rush. After the whoosh downhill to the banks of the Tauber, the morning was an easy if damp flat ride along untrafficked country lanes along the valley floor. Cyclists outnumbered drivers by about 19 to 1, and ebikes outnumbered pedal cycles by 99 to 1. I was the 1.

Carry on up the Tauber

There was a procession of villages and small towns, and more scrumpable apple and pear trees. At Bieberehren I left the D9 route, and the Romantic Road, to join a railtrail that wound round and up the side of hill before eventually descending to Ochsenfurt.

Scenery at last

It proved a good choice: smooth flat tarmac that you could skate if you had skidproof skates which of course don’t exist, mildly spectacular valley views all round, quiet, birdsong, and some woods. And no cars, just a few cycle tour groups.

Not a bad place to shelter from rain: Ochsenfurt

The rain picked up for my descent into Ochsenfurt’s old-town timberwork. I stopped off for lunch – well, Kaffee and Kuchen – in a cafe in the historic centre. Despite the weather, my waterproof cycle socks were still perfectly dry. That’s because they were back in my wardrobe at home. I’d forgotten to bring them, so had to do with normal sock/sponge hybrids.

Main chance: Path along the Main between Ochsenfurt and Würzburg

Anyway, from Ochsenfurt’s to my target of Würzburg was a long twelve-mile-ish zip along a wide flat black tarmac service road right alongside the alarmingly high Main river. I was in wine country now: the river’s south-facing slopes were lined with vines, which were in no danger of drying out today.

I heard it on the grapevine. Rainfall, that is.

The Main Cycle Path is apparently 350km long, almost all traffic-free. If it’s all like this I must do it sometime. But preferably when it’s not hammering down.

Right, that’s my sightseeing in Würzburg done

I got to Würzburg around half past three and checked into my hostel opposite the station. The town’s list of must-sees made me very happy. It was brief to the point of nonexistence. That meant I could spend the afternoon and evening doing various online and offline admin that had piled up, write some postcards, and swig three bottles of absurdly cheap pils from Edeka.

Rain? Who cares? I had a nice warm dorm bed and had enjoyed a satisfactory day of cycling progress.

Miles today: 45
Miles from Füssen: 237

Previous
←   Germany 4: Dinkelsbühl to Rothenburg ob der Tauber
Next
Germany 6: Würzburg to Kothen →

You are here

e2e.bike > End to Ends > Germany > Germany 5: Rothenburg ob der Tauber to Würzburg

Recent Posts

  • Germany 6: Würzburg to Kothen 11 September 2025
  • Germany 5: Rothenburg ob der Tauber to Würzburg 10 September 2025
  • Germany 4: Dinkelsbühl to Rothenburg ob der Tauber 9 September 2025

Random Posts

  • Sri Lanka 16: Anuradhapura29 January 2015
    A pleasant, easy day on the bike, exploring Anuradhapura’s extensive ancient ruined …
  • Britain 7: Bath to Stow11 June 1997
    After a rest day at home, I could push on. Literally, up …
  • Ireland 11: Ballina to Ballyshannon11 June 2011
    A super cycling day of fine weather and finer scenery. Ballina has …

Search e2e.bike

Find me

        
Facebook • Bluesky • Linked In • Email
© 2025 e2e.bike | Powered by Minimalist Blog WordPress Theme