The millennia old Franconian sand axis between Bamberg and Weißenburg in Bavaria extends over 2,000 square kilometres. A brand-new 180 kilometre cycle route which will be opened on April 19th 2007 runs through it. One can now cycle across the sandy heart of Franconia almost completely without gradients, so making the route also suitable for families with children. And it is exciting: The unique sand habitat - with its terrace sands, aeolian cover sands, sand fields and dunes - houses all sorts of animals and plants like antlions, tiger beetles or filago, which are adapted to the "Franconian desert". Towns steeped in history lie along the cycle route with notable sandstone buildings from the Franconian quarries: Bamberg cathedral, Fürth city hall in Florentine style or the Imperial Castle of Nuremberg. The "loose" sandy soil also ensures that here asparagus and horseradish thrive particularly well and entice one to rest in pubs with local flavour. After all here one knows how to celebrate with beer and Franconian wine.

One of the most famous church fairs in the region is held in Bamberg and is called “Sandkerwa".  And, last but not least, many beautiful sandy beaches in flooded gravel pits, on the river Regnitz or the lake Brombachsee in the Franconian Lake Country, lure one from the bike for a jump into the cool waters.

Judith Weibrecht

Information:

Tourismusverband Franken e. V.

Wilhelminenstraße 6

90461 Nürnberg