A journey of discovery on two wheels

Southwest Palatinate has a network of cycle paths that will take you to wonderful places between the Palatinate, Saarland, and France. “Mens sana in corpore sano”, as the Romans used to say – healthy body, healthy mind. We would add: per pedales ad laetitiam – on two wheels to joy.

Are you currently planning your holiday and wondering whether the southwest Palatinate has anything to offer cyclists? The answer: more than you think. That’s why we’ve put together three tours for you: to provide some inspiration and as a little guide to help you plan your break at Kloster Hornbach.

Leisure cycling
For leisure cyclists, we recommend the European Mill Cycle Route, a well-maintained circular route of around 47 kilometres, which starts directly in Hornbach. The route follows the course of the river through the border region between the Saar-Palatinate and Lorraine, crosses the border into France several times, and passes 14 historic mill sites, including the Mill and Sawmill Museum at Eschviller Mill, which makes for an impressive stop along the way. The route is easy and, above all, ideal for e-bikes.

Sporty, sporty
If you’d prefer something a bit more active, head for the Hornbach-Fleckenstein cycle route. The around 63-kilometre-long route runs through the Zweibrücken hills and the Palatinate Forest, always within easy reach of the German-French border, and continues eastwards for a few kilometres across French territory to the ruins of Fleckenstein castle in Alsace. It reaches its highest point at 440 metres above sea level in Vinningen, from where the view stretches far across the border region. 

For adults & children 
For families with children, the section of the Pirminius Cycle Route from Hornbach to Zweibrücken is our top tip. It runs for around 10 kilometres along a former railway line through the Hornbachtal valley; it is an asphalted route, with no inclines, and ends at the rose garden in Zweibrücken. From Hornbach, the route follows the track directly into the heart of the town, past the Schlossplatz square and the beautifully manicured rose garden. It’s about 20 kilometres there and back.

And when you ride back to Kloster Hornbach after one of these tours, with your legs pleasantly tired and your mind wonderfully clear, you’ll understand why we love southwest Palatinate. And we know that you’ll love it, too. “Solvitur ambulando,” said a Latin scholar. We say: Solvitur pedalando. Cycling solves everything.