By handcycle on the Ilmtal Cycle Path

On the road with René Strobach

Cycling along the Ilmtal Cycle Path through beautiful landscapes and along the UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Weimar. Well-maintained paths and numerous rest stops offer relaxation. Goethe's quotes along the way provide inspiration. Overall, the route offers plenty of peace and quiet, beautiful views and repeated opportunities to immerse yourself in the history of Thuringia. A real insider tip for anyone who loves cycling in a relaxed atmosphere.

This is me ...

Hello, I am René Strobach and I come from Erfurt. I have been a wheelchair user and handcyclist since 2000. I like travelling in pairs or in small groups in Thuringia. I would like to introduce you to one of my favourite tours along the Ilm. I use the Speedy Duo 2 handbike from Speedy Reha-Technik GmbH.

On the Ilmtal Cycle Path from Weimar to Oßmannstedt

The tour from Weimar to Oßmannstedt leads - like a string of pearls - past places worth seeing such as Goethe's summer house in the Park on the Ilm, Tiefurt Palace and Park, the Renaissance Kromsdorf Palace and through beautiful landscapes of colourful fields and tranquil forests. The route is mostly asphalted, and even the few sections with a water-bound surface are easy to cycle on.

Anyone starting out in Weimar has the opportunity to discover the city's numerous cultural highlights. It is worth planning some time for the museums or a stroll through the historic old town. With its cobblestones and magnificent façades, you almost feel like you've been transported back in time.

From the Kegelbrücke bridge, you reach the Ilmtal Cycle Path. This offers a little variety with its first small narrow section - but don't worry, the passage is easy to see. Not far from the bridge, there is also a first photo spot on the tour: Goethe's summer house. Just a few metres further on, you can take another nice shot of the Roman House. Both are museums of ‘Classical Weimar’ - a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Further along the Ilm, things become quieter. In Tiefurt, the palace park invites you to take your first longer break. Here, in the middle of the historic gardens, you can enjoy the peaceful atmosphere.

Culinary tip

In the ground-level accessible Café & Restaurant ‘Am Schlosspark’, you can unwind with Thuringian cuisine and homemade cakes. The Alte Remise restaurant also caters for wheelchair users with modern interpretations of Thuringian cuisine made from regional products.

After Tiefurt, the cycle path narrows to 1.55 metres for around 800 metres. This sounds narrow, but it is easy to cycle on, as oncoming traffic is generally easy to recognise. The section between Tiefurt and Kromsdorf is particularly beautiful. Here you cycle in the footsteps of Grand Duchess Maria Pavlovna, who once wanted the castles to be connected by a path. Natural stones with quotes from Goethe line the path and offer repeated opportunities to pause for a moment and let the poet's words sink in.

The tour ends in Oßmannstedt, a charming place that invites you to linger. From here, you have the option of taking the train back to Weimar. The train departs from the easily accessible platform 1.

Information on accessibility

Direction of travel: from Weimar to Oßmannstedt (recommendation of direction of travel due to lack of accessibility to track 2 at Oßmannstedt station due to a very steep gradient of over 25% over 5 m - if travelling in the opposite direction, this track 2 would have to be used)
Longitudinal gradients: Inclines and declines of up to 10%
Surface: predominantly asphalt or water-bound surface
Note: in Weimar, the route from the main railway station leads partly over cobblestones
Car parks (www.weimar.de), e.g.:
- Weimar Beethovenplatz at the Goethe House
- Weimar at the main station
- Tiefurt at the castle
WC for people with disabilities (www.weimar.de), e.g. at the main station in Weimar