Strasbourg - Luxembourg

Check-in at the hotels and explore Strasbourg!

You leave Strasbourg by the European Parliament. The cycle trail leads you along the towpath of the Marne-Rhine canal to reach Saverne. Many towns and villages surround the cycle path, as Brumath, the capital of Alsace in Roman times and Hochfelden, famous for its brewing tradition. You arrive to the picturesque town of Saverne with its impressive double lock. Cycle along the marina and enjoy a fantastic view at the Rohan Castle!

Today you will cycle again along the Marne-Rhine canal and its locks. You pass by the Saint Louis Arzviller inclined plane. This impressive structure enables the canal to bypass a set of 17 locks. It is the only shiplift in Europe of a transversal type! Another peculiarity is the pond of Gondrexange, it was created in the Middle Ages by fish-farming monks. Then the canal winds through the magnificent valley of the river Saar to Mittersheim. In the evening, you will have a transfer from Mittersheim to Saarbrücken, a baroque city.

You will follow the Saar cycling route which takes you to cultural highlights as the World Heritage Site “Völklinger Hütte“ (former ironworks). Covering an area of more than 600.000 m², the gigantic foundry is the only fully preserved ironworks from the heyday of industrialisation in the world. Then you pass in the city of the Sun King, Saarlouis, before you arrive in Merzig where you will be staying for two nights.

Take a relaxing break in the small town of Merzig or cycle in the heart of the “Merziger Äppelkischd”, which means “apple box”, so named because of the many local apple orchards. On the way, you will see numerous apple trees, vast cornfields, rapeseed fields and maize fields. You will discover many pieces of art (carved stones) that invite bikers to an extraordinary cycle day at the German-French border.

After breakfast, you will be cycling a few kilometres to pass the first hightlight, the Saar Bow, which is a unique natural wonder. From there you will cycle to Mettlach where you can visit the famous Ceramics manufacture Villeroy & Boch. Behind the Baroque facade, you can experience more than 260 years of ceramic and corporate history. The route leads you to Saarburg a picturesque town where you can admire a waterfall of 20 meters high. Continue to the vast vineyards right and left of the river Moselle until Trier. Take your time to visit the Porta Nigra, the amphitheater, the Imperial Baths or the magnificent cathedral.

You begin this stage at the Römerbrücke and cycle again along the Moselle before you reach the border. You cycle now on small country roads, through little villages, through hilly landscapes with green forests and colourful fields. You arrive in Luxembourg, a modern and cosmopolitan city where you can visit the Ducal Palace, the Notre Dame Cathedral and the impressive casemates registered on the UNESCO world heritage list.