Cycling tour in the Harz foothills | Stage 5: Quedlinburg - Ballenstedt and back

Short Description

Description

The Garden Dreams are 50 historic parks and gardens in Saxony-Anhalt, which describe the history of garden art and various types of gardens.

During this 7-day bike tour, you will experience the most beautiful parks in the Harz region. Start your journey in Wernigerode with a visit to the castle and enjoy the unique view of the Harz mountains from the castle terraces. The journey continues to the monastery gardens of Drübeck and Michaelstein. Just a stones throw away lies Blankenburg (Harz). Here, you can experience 400 years of garden art in one place. From the UNESCO World Heritage town of Quedlinburg with its collegiate gardens, the route leads you on a circular tour to Rieder and Ballenstedt. In Rieder, the theater architect Bernhard Sehring created his very own fairy-tale castle, the Roseburg, including a romantic park, from 1907 onwards. Ballenstedts castle park impresses with a water axis and an imposing dragon fountain designed by Peter Joseph Lenné.

Services:

- 6 nights in good mid-range hotels with breakfast

- Luggage transfer

- HarzCard (Guest All-Inclusive Card for 4 days)

- Admission to the castle museum and collegiate church St. Servatius with Quedlinburg Cathedral Treasury

- Tour package per room

- 7-day service hotline

Notes: The HarzCard can be used on four freely selectable days within the validity period. You can experience attractions from about 120 partners.

City tax is payable in all cities listed above (approx. €2.50 per person per day). This amount is to be paid in cash at each accommodation and is therefore not included in the travel price. In return, you will receive the Harz Holiday Ticket Hatix, which allows you free travel on all public bus and tram lines in the Harz district.

Optional Additional Services: Rental bike (touring bike/e-bike)

Note:

Booking exclusively through Elbe Rad Touristik GmbH. The Garden Dreams e. V. is neither the organizer nor the intermediary of this offer.

Booking:

Elbe Rad Touristik GmbH | Gerhart-Hauptmann-Str. 2 | 39108 Magdeburg

Phone: 0391 / 7330 334

Fax: 0391 / 7330 335

[email protected] | www.elbe-rad-touristik.de

Prices:

Price per person in a double room: €573.00

Single room supplement: €196.00

5% discount for group bookings (7-12 participants)

Directions

Quedlinburg – Roseburg Castle – Ballenstedt (approx. 15 km each way)

Todays tour starts in Quedlinburg, cycling on the Aller-Harz cycle path towards Bad Suderode, where you will then join the EuroVelo 1 cycle path. You will continue cycling via Gernrode and soon reach the fairy-tale Roseburg Castle, nestled between the villages of Rieder and Ballenstedt. Bernhard Sehring created the park in the style of Italian and English landscape gardens with attention to detail and integrating nature. Both the Roseburg building and the extensive park with its sculptures and decorative elements form a wonderful unity – a fusion of architecture and garden. You can take a break at the castle café before cycling the remaining kilometers to Ballenstedt. There, you will find the castle with its 29 ha park. A highlight is the terraced water axis, inspired by the style of Italian villa gardens. The park, together with the late Baroque castle ensemble, forms a fascinating harmony. You can recharge at the café or restaurant before returning to Quedlinburg. Alternatively, if available, you can also take the bus back to Quedlinburg free of charge (subject to bicycle parking availability).

HarzCard Benefits (Examples)

- Ballenstedt Castle: free entry to the Höfisches Wohnen exhibition and the Ballenstedt Castle Film Museum

- Roseburg Garden: free entry

Additional Information

Other Garden Dreams tours in Saxony-Anhalt

Garden Dreams in the Elbauen (7 days)

Garden Dreams in the World Heritage Region (6 days)

Safety Information

This trip is not suitable for people with limited mobility. As a participant, you are responsible for ensuring that you are physically capable of meeting the requirements of an active trip (e.g., physical activity for several hours).

Itinerary

Day 1: Arrival in Wernigerode

Today, you will travel to Wernigerode on your own. Here, you can explore the lively history between the castle ensemble, medieval town hall, and Kleiner Harz miniature park.

Day 2: Wernigerode – Drübeck Monastery and back (approx. 6 km each way)

In the morning, the bike tour takes you to Drübeck Monastery. In the afternoon, we invite you to visit Wernigerode Castle and its castle gardens.

Day 3: Wernigerode – Michaelstein Monastery (approx. 12 km) - Blankenburg (approx. 5 km)

You will cycle on the R1 route to Michaelstein Monastery, which is also located on the Romanesque Road. The second part of the day can be used for a visit to Blankenburg Castle with its castle gardens or for a hike to Regenstein Castle.

Day 4: Blankenburg – Thale (approx. 10 km)

The goal of todays short stage is the town of Thale. The HarzCard offers you some free highlights here.

Day 5: Thale – Quedlinburg (approx. 13 km)

You will leave the EuroVelo R1 cycle path and ride along the Bode River to the World Heritage town of Quedlinburg. In addition to the old town with its narrow alleys and picturesque half-timbered houses, visiting the castle (admission included) is recommended.

Day 6: Quedlinburg – Roseburg Castle – Ballenstedt (approx. 15 km each way)

Todays tour starts in Quedlinburg with a ride to the fairy-tale Roseburg Castle. Then, you will cycle the remaining kilometers to Ballenstedt. There, you will find the castle with its 29 ha park. Return to Quedlinburg.

Day 7: Departure or Extension

Today, your bike tour ends, and you begin your individual journey back home. We are happy to arrange an extension for you in the World Heritage town of Quedlinburg.