Road bike holidays in Southern Germany’s beautiful Allgäu region
Roadbike Holidays offers cycling vacations to many destinations. Marcel and his wife went with them on a short trip to the Allgäu in Southern Germany.
My wife Beth and I go on short bike holidays every now and then. We are recreational cyclists without racing aspirations that like to spend some quality time in the saddle together. This time, I wanted to introduce my wife to road cycling and was looking for a destination that offered beginner level routes in a pleasing setting.
The Allgäu region
Our partnering tour organizer Roadbike Holidays has a category called “Tour & Delights” that helped us book a two night stay at the Hotel Sommer, A 4-star Hotel and Spa in the Allgäu region, south-west of Munich in the foothills of the Alps.
Our trip took place at the end of May and the weather in Southern Germany can still be somewhat unpredictable at this time of the year. However, the fact that we did not have to board a plane and pack our bikes for cargo, but were simply able to reach our destination within a few hours of driving made us take this risk. The Allgäu also offers great hiking and good sightseeing, like a visit to the famous Neuschwanstein Castle, for rainy days.
A 4 star spa hotel and riding? Things couldn't get any better.
Mounting the bikes on the car.
Iconic Neuschwanstein Castle.
Planning the daily cycling tours
Before leaving home, we had researched the internet for possible rides in the area and downloaded several ones on to our smartphones for GPS navigation. Again, the Roadbike Holidays website was of great help here. Under the category “Tours” (link: http://www.roadbike-holidays.com/en/roadbike-hotels/hotel-sommer-p59-54.html#!hotels-tours), a variety of recommended rides are documented and ready from download. In addition, the nearby city of Füssen also provides 30 ride recommendations on their site. Since some of the suggested routes included non-paved roads, we selected gravel bikes for our trip. It was a good choice, as the wider tyres provided extra comfort even on paved surfaces.
Gravel bikes were the right choice.
Hotel Sommer
Arrival at Hotel Sommer went smoothly and we the first impression was very positive after a warm welcoming by the staff. The 4-star accommodation caters specifically towards cyclists. This became immediately clear, when we went to store our bicycles in a special bike garage that included a workshop, tools and a selection of replacement parts.
The special bike garage.
Even a spare Continental 4000 S tyre can be purchased in the small shop in the hotel.
The hotel has a fleet of rental bikes and offers several guided rides of different skill levels and group sizes. A lot of times the hotel owner himself attends the guests and guides rides. He bought the property in the 70s and over time established it as a spa and sports resort, nicely located by beautiful Lake Forgensee.
After settling into our spacious double room, we headed out on the first short ride to explore the area. We went to nearby Lake Hopfensee, then onto the nearby city of Füssen and to Lake Mittersee. Make sure you try the homemade Apfelstrudel pastry at the Waldwirtschaft, it’s outstanding.
Hotel Sommer is located right by Lake Forggensee.
Our spacious room with a balcony.
The rides
As expected, the area‘s network of cycling paths was extremely well marked and the surface quality left little to desire. We understand that mountain bikers also find a good selection of trails. The Allgäu with its Alpine backdrop is ideal for recreational cycling.
The rides range from short beginner loops of 26 km and 185 vertical meters to all-day adventures that incorporate 3 mountain passes, 215 kilometres and up to 3000 vertical meters of climbing.
With our physical shape in mind, my wife Beth and I chose two medium-level rides, the Burgen – und Schlösserrunde that features castles and palaces and the Prolog am Foggernsee, a ride by the lake. Both were around 45 km long and had around 300 vertical meters, the ideal start into road biking for my wife.
Marcel on an easy climb.
Many rides feature an alpine backdrop.
The scenery and the landscape were stunning on both rides, featuring pristine lakes, rivers and the alpine mountains in the background.
Wellness nach der Tour
After each day’s workout, we went back to the hotel to take advantage of the spa area with 5 different saunas, heated indoor and outdoor pools, a well-equipped gym and beautiful views of the lake to relax and recharge.
Beautiful scenery wherever you look.
Right next to the hotel is Lake Forggensee.
Food and dining at the hotel is a pleasure in itself. Breakfast is served in form of a large buffet, offering something for everybody and proving the right nutrition for a whole day of riding. Dinner usually consisted of well balanced meals featuring regional dishes, fresh fish and pasta. The hotel bar offered after dinner drinks and cocktails to finish off the day.
My verdict
In my eyes, the Allgäu is not only an alternative to more established and further-away cycling destinations like Mallorca. Its offer consists of road and mountain biking in a very beautiful natural setting, hard to find elsewhere in Germany. Off the bike, the region has loads to offer as well. Hotel Sommer is very comfortable and puts cyclists in the centre. Especially when travelling as a couple, it’s hard to think of a better destination. We’ll be back.
