Cycling from state to state: Three States Route in the Odenwald region

Baden-Württemberg, Bavaria and Hessen are particularly enticing for cycling holidays. So much in fact, that you might find it hard to decide where to go. Luckily for you, there is the Three States Route.

The Three States Route takes on a circular tour through three of Germany's most beautiful federal states. A leisurely riverside tour at times, appealing to families or those cycling just for fun, it goes on to display more challenging qualities on other stretches. While the Odenwald Forest provides the backdrop, the rivers Main, Neckar and Mümling point the way. As you roll along through pretty little villages, your path is interrupted by castles, churches and historical houses, just waiting to be explored. Expanses of forest give way to river valleys and orchards, while uphill gradients reward you with sweeping panoramic vistas. Terrain: predominantly asphalt tracks. Level sections along the Main and Neckar rivers, but also climbs and descents (some of which can be avoided by taking the train). Scenery: the long-distance cycle route passes through the Neckar, Main and Mümling valleys and the hills of the Odenwald region with its swathes of forest. Historical half-timbered towns abound along the way.