Eastern circular route

The route begins at the tourist information center at Schnappelberg. The app guides you towards Vogelherd. 

From the water building, you follow the EuroVelo R1 along the edge of the Harz. A detailed description is not necessary here, as you can initially follow the very good signage of the R1 to Thale. Your route takes you to Cattenstedt, through Wienrode, past the scout hostel Forsthaus Eggerode, and through Thale's district Benneckenrode. At the inn Rübchen, you leave the road (perhaps enjoy the first refreshment) and follow the narrow path, which also marks the Harz Monastery Trail. At the industrial area Wolfsburgstraße, the app route leaves the R1 for a detour to the Harz highlights in Thale at the entrance to the legendary Bode Valley.

After crossing the Bode bridge, the fantastic panorama of the Bode Valley opens up before you with the Hexentanzplatz and the Rosstrappe. From the large parking lot, it is only a few meters to the Seilbahnen Thale Erlebniswelt. Here you have to get off and push your bike. Alongside the tourist offers, you will also find gastronomy here. The “Bike Arena” attracts adrenaline junkies among mountain bikers to the downhill track from the Rosstrappe down into the valley.    

Users of the Harz app leave the center along the Peace Park and continue on Thale’s hill edge on the R1 towards Neinstedt. Pretty private homes line the way here. The predominantly asphalted route is very comfortable to ride and Neinstedt is quickly reached. Information boards about the history of the area inform at the roadside, especially about Quedlinburg, another stage destination on today's bike tour.

The church towers of the World Heritage town already greet you from afar when you ride along the R1 behind Neinstedt. The L239 is easy to pass with a bike path next to the road. After crossing the railway tracks of the Selke Valley Railway, you leave the EuroVelo route towards Quarmbeck.

You pass through the small former railway viaduct. On the next few meters, be sure to look left and spot the Devil’s Wall rocks near Weddersleben from an unusual perspective. Shortly you reach the roundabout and the Suderöder Chaussee, where you ride safely on the bike path next to the road. Enjoy the beautiful view westward towards the Devil’s Wall and the Harz heights.

Now you have arrived at the outskirts of Quedlinburg. Well-developed bike paths mostly accompany the busy streets of the Harz tourist magnet. Here you follow the main street to the Netto supermarket, turn left at the traffic light, cross the Bode, and ride straight on the Neuer Weg and Steinbrücke into Quedlinburg’s old town. Caution, the pedestrian zone begins here; time to slow down and enjoy during an extensive break.

Ancient, beautifully restored half-timbered houses, pretty small manufactories, and lots of history delight visitors every year. This bike tour takes you right into the experience of the extraordinary city and out again via the Marschlinger Hof. At the end of Marschlinger Hof, you cross the main road and ride on the combined bike and footpath parallel to it out of town. From here, you can also follow the new signage of the Harz Monastery Trail (red cross). A historic stone signpost and hiking signs show the way at the edge of town and forest towards Steinholztriftweg. 

From this moment on, the bike tour leads back through nature, especially after crossing the A36. This is also noticeable in the terrain. Sandy sections alternate with coarse, stony path sections. Here some concentration on the way is required.

Along the small ridge "Steinholz", the path initially leads without noticeable incline along the edge of a charming small forest. Here awaits another surprise, but also a short, steep climb. Getting off and pushing a few meters is allowed. One of the formerly 11 medieval field watchtowers of the city of Quedlinburg awaits your discovery. From the 11 m high stone tower, there is a beautiful view of the Harz foreland, even up to the Brocken in good visibility.

From the Steinholzwarte, a well-ridable and sometimes narrow path leads to a crossroads. Here, the approximately 50 km long “Wartenrundweg” branches off. The area is signposted with numerous hiking signs, where you can orient yourself very well. You head towards Langenstein and on the smooth concrete track towards the A36. At the now following large intersection, you turn right and stay on this wide gravel road for about 4 km until the Börnecker Weinberg. To your right, you see the beautiful panorama of the Thekenberge, which especially shines in the most beautiful colors during the heather bloom and is worth a special trip. 

You reach Börnecke via the short climb to the vineyard with its Adonis roses. From here, you can roll on smooth concrete tracks into the village. Below St. Petri Church, you cross the Blankenburg road through the small rock gorge and at the infopoint turn right into Bahnhofstraße. At the end of the small forest, there is a bench on the left side inviting you to rest with a view of the Brocken before you pass the Börnecke station and ride back through the pine forest in the Heers to Blankenburg.

At the forest edge, a cozy conclusion of the bike tour awaits at "Jogy's Waldkneipe". The ride to the starting point does not lead via Alte Halberstädter Straße but once again to the right parallel to the A36 and via Weinbergstraße towards the city center.

If you are already here: Before you cross under the railway line, you can take a look at the "Mittelstein". The round stone is part of a culture and cult site thousands of years old. Follow the brook along the road a few meters towards Platenberg. Information on the topic is available at the tourist information Blankenburg.

You reach it via Weinbergstraße, Kuno-Riecke-Str., Albert-Schneider-Str., and Lühnergasse before you pedal up Schnappelberg.