River of legends: Danube Cycle Route

The Danube: songs have been written about it, composers have dedicated pieces of music to it and it has been the source of countless stories. Along the Danube Cycle Route it's easy to see why this mighty river has proven such an inspiration to so many.

Like every river, the Danube comes from small beginnings. Its source is in the grounds of the royal residence at Fürstenberg in Donaueschingen. A few miles further on the river disappears again – on 150 days of the year, the water seeps into underground channels at the Danube Sink. But the river soon re-emerges before reaching Ulm, home to the tallest church tower in the world, and Donauwörth with what is considered one of the most beautiful streets in southern Germany, and the spectacular scenery of the Danube Gorge. A UNESCO World Heritage site, Regensburg is the river's next port of call. Almost a thousand monuments in the town's old quarter serve as a reminder of its Roman heritage, merchants and saints. The German Danube route, part of the EuroVelo 6 European long-distance cycle route, ends in Passau. Terrain: the Danube Cycle Route in Germany runs from the source of the river to Passau. This section is perfect for families and has few steep inclines. It only has some asphalt surfacing, but is easy to ride on. Signposting is not standardised. Scenery: the Danube passes through a number of picturesque backdrops such as the Black Forest, Swabian Alb and Upper Swabia, the Donauried basin, Franconian hills and the Bavarian Forest, offering a rich diversity of nature on its way.

• Length: 609 kilometres
• Starts: Donaueschingen
• Ends: Passau
• Route info: hilly in parts, easily managed with children, majority of route suitable for trailers