Route

Quedlinburg – Vilnius

Start:  Monday, June 1. Arrival to Quedlinburg from May 30.
Finish: Monday, July 6, Lithuanian State Day. Song Festival.
Total distance: 2000 km.
Day distances: 60-80 km.
Days free of cycling: 7.

GERMANY:Quedlinburg – Magdeburg – Dresden – Konigstein – Neudorf
We will start the ride from Quedlinburg after visiting the abbey church of Saint Servatius where the name of Lithuania was first time mentioned. In that time Quedlinburg was an important cultural center of developing German empire.  Nowadays Quedlinburg was inscribed into UNESCO World Heritage list as an exceptional example of a medieval European town. After Quedlinburg we will cycle to Magdeburg, the capital of the Holy Roman Empire. During many centuries the set of city laws known under the name of Magdeburg Rights was developed here. In the 13th and 14th centuries, Magdeburg rights were granted to more than a hundred cities, in the north and east towards Russia, including Schleswig, Bohemia, Poland, especially in Pomerania, Prussia, and Lithuania. From Magdeburg to Dresden we will cycle along the picturesque Elbe Valley where the most popular German cycle route follows. On the way we will visit the sights inscribed in UNESCO World Heritage: the Garden Kingdom of Dessau-Wörlitz, the outstanding example of landscape design of the Age of the Enlightenment; the Dessau Bauhaus School, which revolutionized and shaped much of the architecture of the 20th century; and Martin Luther’s City – Wittenberg, where in 1517 the famous ’95 Theses’ launched the Reformation and a new era in the religious and political history of the Western world. The next will follow Meissen with its world-famous porcelain, and we’ll arrive to Dresden, one of the most beautiful German towns, the capital of Saxony, the royal residence of Kings with astonishing collections of European art. Dresden and castles of surrounding region are related with names of August II the Strong and August III, the Electors of Saxony, the Kings of Poland and Grand Dukes of Lithuania. The cultural landscape of Dresden Elbe valley with its numerous monuments and parks, suburban villas and gardens are also on the list of UNESCO World Heritage. Close to Dresden we will reach the National Park of Saxon Switzerland where at the beginning of 20th century the ‘Saxon Rules’ for rock climbing were established. We will enjoy here the wonders of wild nature and mysterious sandstone rock formations.

CZECHIA: Krasna Lipa – Warnsdorf – Frydlant
We will enter Czechia only for a short time cycling nearby the already open borders with Germany, and after Poland. The lands here belong to the southernmost part of historical Upper Lusatia region which is famous by traditional “Umgebindehäuser” half-timbered-houses, and Sorbian Slavic minority living here. After cycling through green foothills of Lusatian mountains we will stop at the point where Poland, Germany and the Czech Republic come together; during the Communist era the big region around was called the “Black Triangle” as one of the most polluted industrial landscapes on the globe. From here we will visit the German town Zittau, which from XIV century was the member of the Six-City League of Upper Lusatia. Because of it’s prosperity at that time the city got a special title “the Rich”.  After Zittau we will take the direction to Frydlant to explore the most popular in Czech Republic 13th century castle.

POLAND: Lesna – Zamek Czocha – Lubomierz – Lwowek Slaski – Zlotoryja – Legnica – Lubiaz – Leszno – Kornik – Poznan – Gniezno – Inowroclaw – Torun – Chelmno – Grudziadz – Kwidzyn – Gniew – Malbork – Elblag – Moraq – Grunwald – Olsztyn – Lidzbark Warminski – Reszel – Ketrzyn – Gizycko – Goldap – Wizaijny

LITHUANIA: Vistytis – Bartninkai – Vilkaviskis – Vilkija – Kaunas – Kernave – Trakai – Vilnius