Ith loop

The region between Ith and Hils was settled early on and since the Middle Ages has been the subject of multiple conflicts between competing noble families, the Lords of Homburg and the Counts of Spiegelberg, who built their castles here and asserted their ownership claims. The region was also characterized by its wealth of natural resources - coal, clay, gypsum, salt, limestone, and sandstone. About 400 years ago, small centers with early industrial production emerged around mining, glassworks, saltworks, brickworks, potteries, and quarries. Even today, the region's natural resources remain economically significant.
The tour places very different demands on the cyclists' fitness and endurance. For less experienced riders, the use of e-bikes is recommended on some sections.