Bike and Barge: Strasbourg to Mainz

Make your own way into Strasbourg (Kehl). Embarkation will be from 3:00 – 5:00 p.m.

Depending on your arrival time, you may have time to explore the capital of the Alsace today. Enjoy the beautiful city, known for its many canals.

After breakfast, you should have plenty of time to explore Strasbourg. The Strasbourg Minster and the Tanners` Quarter with its small historic half-timbered houses are well worth seeing. Soak up the French joie de vivre, before you set out on your first cycle tour. Cycle directly along the River Rhine, through the gentle Rhine plain until you reach the Gambsheim lock where you will find your ship waiting for you. You will then set sail for Germersheim. Whilst on board, enjoy a glass of wine on deck or in the saloon, as you relive the highlights of your journey so far.

Toda’s cycle will guide you through unspoilt nature along the old Rhine ox-bow lakes. Before, however, look forward to forward to visiting the old fortified town of Germersheim, which is full of picturesque lanes, corners and squares. As you continue through the Palatinate land, you will eventually reach your destination for the day, the cathedral city of Speyer. Speyer Cathedral was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1981.

Today you can relax with a short ride along the bank of the Old Rhine. You will pass marvellous lakes, and cycle through untouched protected areas, designated as National Nature Reserves, and natural flood plains. By the end of your ride, you will have reached Mannheim, also called the “City of Squares” due to its layout in a grid-pattern. Among these squares, you will find countless places that are well worth a visit, for example the famous Mannheim Baroque Palace(German largest Baroque palace complex), and the water tower (the city’s landmark).

Today you will head through the heart of the Electoral Palatinate and thus partly along the Castle Road. Schwetzingen Castle, and its castle garden, are just 2 of the reasons to visit the charming town of Schwetzingen. From here, the route continues via Plankstadt and Eppelheim to Heidelberg. Already visible from afar, the ruin of Heidelberg Castle towers over the Old Town. Admire the famous Heidelberg red sandstone bridge or stroll through meandering lanes and see the picturesque squares in the Old Town. For a longer cycle route, follow the Neckar on the other side, through the Roman town Ladenburg, back to Mannheim.

You leave will leave Mannheim. With meadows and fields at your side, you will follow the path of the Rhine to the imperial city of Worms. On your journey through two millennia of the city’s history, learn about emperors and kings, myths and legends of the Nibelung, Judaism and Martin Luther.

With almost 1,000 Hectares of viticultural area, Nierstein is home to the largest wine-growing community on the Rhine. The historic Old Town with its medieval market square and noble houses is also well worth visiting. A short stretch that leaves plenty of time for one to indulge oneself: cycle on the Rhine Cycle Route on well-paved cycle ways directly alongside the Rhine from Nierstein to Mainz. Guests, who would like to cycle a longer stretch, can also choose to start the cycle tour in Worms. (cycle tour Worms-Mainz approx. 60 km).

After breakfast disembarkation until 09:00am. Individual journey home.