Ilm Valley Cycle Route: A journey of culture & classicism

The Ilm valley has been home to some of Germany's great intellectuals – most notably Johann Wolfgang von Goethe. Cyclists along the Ilm Valley Route will be inspired by nature and the legacy of Weimar Classicism.

The tour begins at Allzunah on the Rennsteig ridge walk in the Thuringian Forest. The route then follows the river through the countryside to the birthplace of Weimar Classicism. Weimar attracts cultural buffs from all over the world with its Classical Weimar and Bauhaus ensemble, both UNESCO World Heritage sites. In Apolda, the 'Olle DDR' (Old GDR) exhibition documents the region's socialist legacy. The countryside in the Ilm valley shows how human settlement has sculpted the land to stunning effect – it was once said that Weimar is a park containing a town, while the Ilm riverbanks retain an unspoilt character. Your journey ends in style in Bad Sulza, a spa resort where wine has been made for over 800 years. Terrain: predominantly flat, gentle climbs on occasion. Not always traffic-free. The paths are predominantly asphalt, but some are paved or covered with crushed brick/stone. Scenery: densely wooded hills, riverbank meadows, broad plains, parks, historical towns and vineyards

• Length: 125 kilometres
• Starts: Allzunah on the Rennsteig trail
• Ends: Grossheringen/Kaatschen-Weichau
• Route info: mainly flat terrain, hilly in parts, easily managed with children