The best traffic-free bike rides in Upper Palatinate

Wonderful stretches of trail in a magnificent area

In the middle of Dietfurt, directly on the main street, the Hotel-Gasthof Zum Bräu-Toni awaits as an officially certified bike-friendly establishment for all who want more than a quick rest. The kitchen focuses on regional and seasonal products. Altmühltal lamb is on the menu, along with freshly prepared fish and game dishes and a beer garden for beautiful days. You can also stay overnight in this family-run establishment. More information at www.dietfurt.de/gastronomie/hotel-gasthof_zum_braeu-toni-333/.

The Gasthaus zur Sonne inn in Kottingwörth is located directly on the Altmühltal cycle path. The establishment, family-run since 1855, serves Bavarian home-style cooking, freshly tapped Augustiner beer, and on Sundays, classic Schäuferl, available either in the cozy dining room or in the shady beer garden directly on the route. Those who like Altmühltal lamb will also find it on the menu here. Opening hours and further information at www.beilngries.de/gastronomie/gasthaus_zur_sonne-7.

The renovated Hotel Post is located directly at the gates of the old town wall and is a good stop on the route. The hotel scores points with a small but really good menu, a bicycle garage directly on the premises, and an atmospheric ambience under the open roof truss. For a longer break, a tour along the completely preserved town wall with its four gates and 13 towers is worthwhile afterwards. Berching is one of the best-preserved medieval townscapes in Bavaria. You can find all information at www.berching.de/gastronomie/post_berching-3406/.

The Gasthof Lehnerwirt is located right in the middle of Breitenbrunn's market square. The cozy inn serves regional cuisine, and the terrace with a view of the market square and the church makes the break twice as enjoyable. Breitenbrunn itself looks back on over 1,150 years of history and is worth a short stroll. You can find all information about the inn and the current menu at www.gasthoflehner.de.

Lake Steinberger Lake Steinberger is part of the Upper Palatinate Lake District and, with an area of 1.84 km², is the largest lake in the Upper Palatinate. It was named after the municipality of Steinberg am See. It is 1.98 km long, 1.4 km wide, and has a maximum depth of 50 meters. The Schreckerbach stream feeds and drains the lake. After the Bavarian lignite industry ceased mining operations in the mid-1980s, the open-cast mine "Steinberger See" was flooded by reducing the water level. Remaining mining equipment was demolished and still lies on the lakebed. Two small, wooded islands also remain, which now divide the lake into a northern and a southern section. In the following decades, tourism developed at Lake Steinberger, bringing a degree of economic growth to the region. In addition to the Steinberger Yacht Club (SYC), founded in 1987, the area now boasts a sailing school, a water ski lift, a boat rental, a leisure park for families and children, a surf club, and most recently, an adventure golf course and a roughly 40-meter-high wooden "adventure sphere" with viewing platforms, an obstacle course, and a giant slide. Numerous restaurants, inns, and cafés complement the leisure offerings. A water rescue station has been established for the safety of visitors. Due to the increasing improvement in water quality and visibility in recent years, Lake Steinberger has become one of the most popular diving areas in the Upper Palatinate. Like all lakes in the Upper Palatinate Lake District, which originated from lignite mines, the water is acidic due to leaching. Because of the ongoing improvement in water quality, fish populations are steadily increasing. Perch and the occasional pike have been observed most frequently. The water is very clean; on windless days, visibility is possible to a depth of at least 10 meters. Occasionally, the tops of dead trees can be seen on the bottom. According to the ordinance issued by the Schwandorf District Office on August 8, 2002, the entire Steinberger See is open for diving. Especially in summer and winter, very good visibility (up to 20 meters) has been possible in recent years. Source: Excerpts from www.wikipedia.de

Rock face made of reef limestone

Church in Dietfurth