Thüringen – The Green Heart of Germany

Thuringia has climbed steadily up the list of Europe's top destinations since the fall of the Iron Curtain, home to Weimar, the "capital of German classicism," and the landscapes that inspired Goethe and Schiller. The route follows the Klassiker Strasse, riding past castles and through a chain of cultural cities, easy going for any recreational cyclist with occasional climbs and frequent rest stops along the way.

Riders spend two nights in Weimar, exploring its culture from Goethehaus baroque architecture to early 20th-century Bauhaus design, before cycling to Erfurt, where Bach once played every organ and Goethe wrote some of his best-known poems. The route also reaches Jena, Schiller's city and home to the university where Karl Marx earned his doctorate.

Each cultural highlight is balanced by relaxed riding through the green belt surrounding the cities, giving Thuringia its nickname as the "green heart of Germany."

Highlights:

• Two nights in Weimar, exploring Goethehaus and Bauhaus architecture
• Ride to Erfurt, linked to Bach and Goethe
• Visit Jena, Schiller's city and Karl Marx's university town
• A circuit ride to the Buchenwald memorial site
• Choice of circuit rides to Eisenach or Gotha
• Rest stops at the Weissensee and other scenic oases along the Klassiker Strasse

Surface and terrain:
Rated Level 1–2 (easy to moderate), described as manageable for any recreational cyclist.

Suitable for:
Recreational cyclists interested in culture and history, comfortable with occasional hills but no serious climbing.