Werratal-Radweg by bike

Two touring cyclists on a tarmac path through meadows beside the Werra near Falken

Photo: Hejkal, CC BY-SA 2.0 DE, via Wikimedia Commons

Distance
about 300 km (186 miles)
Country
Germany
Difficulty
Easy to moderate
Type of trip
Cycling route

The Werratal-Radweg follows the Werra through Thuringia, Hesse and Lower Saxony, from its springs in the Thuringian Forest to Hann. Münden, where the Werra meets the Fulda and becomes the Weser. The official start is Neuhaus am Rennweg, on the main ridge, from where you ride forest tracks on the Rennsteig cycle route to the two springs at Siegmundsburg and Fehrenbach. Then it runs down through Eisfeld, Hildburghausen, Themar, Meiningen, Bad Salzungen, Vacha, Creuzburg, Treffurt, Eschwege, Bad Sooden-Allendorf and Witzenhausen. The official site, run by Werratal Touristik, splits it into six sections of 40 to 75 km, and Wikivoyage says it takes six or seven days. You sleep in hotels, guesthouses and campsites in the towns along the river. There's nothing to book for the route itself.

It's not a smooth riverside path all the way. In January 2025 the ADFC gave it three stars out of five, Werratal Touristik said in a press release. Wikivoyage says the path doesn't always stay by the river, so there are some climbs, for example at Tiefenort and up to Kloster Veßra. Below Hörschel it's mostly level, with only the odd hill of up to 20 m. The upper Werra has a lot of new tarmac cycle path. The Thuringian middle part is rougher, with country roads that have no cycle path and gravel tracks of varying width. On the lower Werra, from Frankenroda, the path is good except for about 3 km at the Werra loop by Lindewerra, a narrow clay track that turns to mud in the wet. Wikivoyage suggests a touring bike with gears for hills. The last section, Eschwege to Hann. Münden, is mostly on separate paths and is the busiest with cyclists.

Highlights along the way

  1. The Werra springs: There are two, at Siegmundsburg and Fehrenbach, high in the Thuringian Forest. Neuhaus am Rennweg station sits on the main ridge at 830 m, so the train does the climbing for you.
  2. Kloster Veßra and Meiningen: A steep climb off the valley floor takes you to Kloster Veßra, where the Henneberg museum has the old monastery and a 6 hectare open-air museum about half-timbered building and daily life. Meiningen, at the end of that section, is known as a theatre town.
  3. The potash country: From Merkers to Heringen in Hesse you ride through a potash mining area, with pithead towers and huge white salt heaps, one of them known as Monte Kali. You can go underground at the Merkers show mine, just off the route. Between here and Eisenach the route keeps crossing the old border between East and West Germany.
  4. Creuzburg and Eisenach: You reach Creuzburg over an old bridge across the Werra. From Hörschel a signed 10 km detour goes to Eisenach, and Wikivoyage says you need a spare day to see the Wartburg castle.
  5. Bad Sooden-Allendorf to Witzenhausen: The official site picks out the Werra loop at Lindewerra as one of the best bits of scenery. Witzenhausen, Germany's smallest university town, sits in one of its oldest cherry-growing areas. The route ends on the Tanzwerder in Hann. Münden, where the two rivers meet.

Distance

About 300 km (186 miles) in all, from the springs to Hann. Münden, by the official count. Wikivoyage measures 308 km from Neuhaus am Rennweg station, and German Wikipedia gives 290 km. You drop from about 780 m at the springs to 123 m at Hann. Münden. The official sections are about 50, 40, 45, 75, 60 and 60 km.

Best time to go

Neither the official site nor Wikivoyage names a best season. Wikivoyage says the cherry blossom turns the slopes around Witzenhausen white in late April and early May. Bridge works at Dorndorf were due to finish around 1 November 2026. If the signed diversion is still up, follow it. Wikivoyage says the riverside path at Tiefenort closes when the Werra floods, and you take the higher alternative instead. Check werratal.de before you go.

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