CYCLING TOURS & E-BIKE TIPS ON THE SWABIAN ALB - DIRECTLY FROM HOTEL SPEIDEL´S BRAUMANUFAKTUR
With a tailwind through the biosphere reserve – cycling holidays for connoisseurs and explorers
The Swabian Alb is perfect for diverse cycling tours – whether on a classic touring bike or an e-bike. Discover the UNESCO biosphere reserve on two wheels: with panoramic views, castle ruins, juniper heaths, and quaint valleys.
Directly from Hotel Speidel's BrauManufaktur you can start the most beautiful tours around Hohenstein without a car.
This is what you can expect from us:
- Well-signposted tours for beginners and sporty people
- E-bike compatible with charging option & battery service
- Route planning & maps included
- Locked bicycle shed for safe storage
- Breakdown kit, air pump & toolbox for self-help on site
Your tour – our tips:
Whether along the Lauter River, through the Lauter Valley, or across the Alb plateau—our in-house tour suggestions offer something for every fitness level. Discover:
- 🍃 Pleasure tours with refreshment stops
- 🏔️ Panoramic routes with elevation profile
- 🚴 Family-friendly circuits with little gradient
- 📍 GPS tracks & QR codes via Komoot app
You can find our tips in a compact format in Speidel's Roadbook – directly on site or right here:
Speidel's Tour 1 – Around the Lautertal
Nature. Culture. Panoramic views. A round trip full of highlights
Discover one of the most beautiful cycling routes in the Swabian Alb Biosphere Reserve: This approximately 36-km circular tour leads through the wild and romantic Lautertal valley, past impressive landscapes and historic sites. Ideal for experienced recreational cyclists with e-bikes or hybrid bikes!
Highlights on bike tour 1:
- 🏞 Lautertal – picturesque valley with impressive rocks and wide meadows
- 🍦 Lautertaleis – homemade ice cream in idyllic surroundings
- 🏛 Lagerhaus an der Lauter – culture, nature & enjoyment in one place
- 🐴 Marbach State Stud – oldest German state stud
Route information:
- Duration: approx. 2 hours
- Distance: 36 km
- Altitude: 560 m ascent / 560 m descent
- Difficulty: medium (ideal for sporty riders or e-bikes)
Speidel's Tour 2 – Experience Pfaffental & Marbach
Landscape. History. Refreshments. A tour with character.
This approximately 56 km circular route takes you along varied trails through the heart of the Swabian Alb. Whether it's sweeping views over the military training area, a visit to the Marbach State Stud, or a refreshing break in Münsingen – this tour combines nature, culture, and culinary delights.
Highlights on bike tour 2:
- 🌲 Pfaffental – quiet valley with pristine nature
- 🎭 Warehouse on the Lauter – cultural gem on the Lauter
- 🐎 Marbach State Stud – Horse breeding with tradition
- 🏞 Groun & military training area – Panoramic views and juniper heaths
Route information:
- Duration: approx. 3 ¾ hours
- Distance: 56 km
- Altitude: 730 m
- Difficulty: medium to challenging (ideal with e-bike or sporty)
Speidel's Tour 3 – Discover nature in the Lautertal
Family-friendly, adventurous, relaxing – time out on two wheels
This leisurely bike tour is perfect for connoisseurs, families, and nature lovers. The route leads along the picturesque Lautertal valley and connects sights such as the famous Wimsen Cave, the Farm Museum in Ödenwaldstetten, and the exciting Pheno Trail.
Highlights on bike tour 3:
- 🌿 Glastal – natural valley with turquoise water
- 🛶 Wimsen Cave – the only cave in Germany accessible by boat
- 🏡 Ödenwaldstetten Farmers' Museum – Swabian history up close
- 🔍 Phenopath – interactive nature experience for young and old
Route information:
- Duration: approx. 2 ¼ hours
- Distance: 38.2 km
- Altitude: 420 m
- Difficulty: easy to medium (ideal for leisurely tours & families)
Speidel's Tour 4 – Culture meets fitness
70 km of cycling pleasure with history, elevation gain and panoramic views
This challenging tour is a must for anyone who enjoys being active and experiencing culture. Over approximately 70 kilometers, you'll experience the full diversity of the Swabian Alb: historic castles, magnificent monasteries, and the pristine landscape of the Lauter Valley.
Highlights of bike tour 4:
- 🏰 Derneck Castle – hilltop castle with a magnificent view of the Lautertal valley
- 🏛️ Marchtal Monastery – former Premonstratensian abbey with baroque splendor
- ⛪ Zwiefalter Minster – impressive church with artistic furnishings
Route information:
- Duration: approx. 4 hours
- Distance: 70 km
- Altitude: 850 m
- Demand: sporty (for experienced cyclists or with e-bike)
Speidel's Tour 5 – Nature, Nostalgia & Views
Relaxed cycling between ruins, retro cars and Fröschles Teich
This varied circular tour takes you through quiet valleys, over panoramic heights, and to special sights. Ideal for anyone who wants to enjoy nature, discover regional culture, and get some exercise.
Highlights of bike tour 5:
- 🏰 Hohenstein Castle – Panoramic view from the castle ruins
- 🌳 Dachslöcher Tower & Fröschles Pond – mysterious places in the countryside
- 🐑 Alb-Gold-Nudelwelt – regional adventure center
- 🏛️ Lichtenstein Castle (within sight) & Car and Technology Museum
Route information:
- Duration: approx. 3.75 hours
- Distance: 44.9 km
- Altitude: 720 m
- Demand: moderate to sporty (also easy to manage with an e-bike)
🌱 Tip: Be considerate when traveling
The tour leads through sensitive natural areas – please follow the signposted instructions and stay on the paths.
Speidel's Tour 6 – Sun & Shade
Cycling pleasure between the Alb plateau and the river valley
This varied circular tour leads through sunny hills and shady floodplain forests along the Zwiefalter Ach. A true highlight for anyone who loves natural diversity and coolness while moving – with exciting stops between karst caves and monastic art.
Highlights on bike tour 6:
- 🌿 Glastal – wild and romantic valley with crystal-clear water
- 🕳️ Wimsen Cave – the only water cave in Germany accessible by boat
- 🧠 PhäonPfad – Discover nature with all your senses
- 🏞️ Zwiefalter Ach-Weg – idyllic river path
- 🏛️ Zwiefalter Minster – baroque architecture in all its splendor
Route information:
- Duration: approx. 3.5 hours
- Distance: 64 km
- Altitude: 590 m
- Difficulty: medium, ideal for e-bikes or experienced cyclists
🌱 Nature & culture united
From cool forests to historic buildings, the tour offers scenic contrasts and cultural highlights.
Speidel's Tour 7 – Göningen
Caves, heights and magnificent views
This tour is a true adventure for experienced cyclists and e-bikers: Over 1,000 meters of elevation gain, natural phenomena such as the Bear Cave and the Urach Waterfall, and the romantic castle scenery around Lichtenstein Castle await you. Ideal for sporty explorers with a sense of nature and history.
Highlights on bike tour 7:
- 🕳️ Bärenhöhle – impressive stalactite cave near Sonnenbühl
- 🏞️ Uracher Waterfall – spectacular natural treasure of the Alb
- 🌄 Panorama on the Rossberg – one of the highest points with a viewing tower
- 🦢 Lower Gönninger Lake – idyllic rest stop
- 🏰 Lichtenstein Castle – the “fairytale castle of Württemberg”
- 🛖 Nebelhöhle & Alte Lichtenstein Ruin – History & Geology united
Route information:
- Duration: approx. 4 hours
- Distance: 60.5 km
- Altitude: 1,000 m
- Difficulty: challenging (especially recommended with an e-bike)
🌿 Sustainable travel
The route leads through sensitive natural areas. Please pay attention to the signs and stay on the marked trails – for a fair coexistence between people and nature.
Speidel's Tour 8 – Marbach & Grafeneck
Experience nature. Understand history.
This varied tour combines scenic beauty with a historical learning site: Along the Lauter and Sternberg rivers, you cycle through quiet valleys, reach the Marbach State Stud and visit the Grafeneck Memorial – a quiet place of remembrance.
Highlights on bike tour 8:
- 🐎 Marbach State Stud – Germany's oldest state stud farm
- 🏞️ Lagerhaus an der Lauter – idyllic resting place directly on the water
- ⛰️ Sternberg – striking vantage point with panoramic views
- 🕯️ Grafeneck Memorial – a place of remembrance for the victims of Nazi euthanasia
Route information:
- Duration: approx. 2 hours
- Distance: 29 km
- Altitude: approx. 600 m
- Difficulty: easy to medium – ideal for connoisseurs or families with e-bikes
💡 Tip: Education & exercise combined
This tour is ideal for combining exercise in the fresh air with a significant moment in German contemporary history – at a leisurely pace, with time to pause.
