Königsschleife - Rennradtour im LK Rotenburg

Route Overview:
Rotenburg (Wümme) – 19 km – Wittorf – 13 km – Kirchwalsede – 7 km – Unterstedt – 16 km – Sottrum 10 km – Horstedt – 12 km – Kirchtimke – 9 km – Breddorf – 11 km – Ostersode – 11 km – Gnarrenburg – 13 km – Oerel – 10 km – Bremervörde – 14 km – Farven – 12 km – Haaßel – 12 km – Zeven – 19 km – Sothel – 18 km – Rotenburg (Wümme)


Detailed route description:
The 204-km-long “Königsschleife” is the ultimate cycling route and winds through the entire district of Rotenburg (Wümme), passing numerous villages, varied landscapes, and historic sites.

The tour starts at train station in the county seat of Rotenburg (Wümme) and takes us through the city center to Fidi-Boon-Wech, a bike expressway built in 2024. We’ll now ride 14 km—partly on excellent asphalt—along a former railroad right-of-way, past old train stations in Brockel and Bretel, and away from any settlements into the southernmost section of this tour to Wittorf.

We cycle along quiet side roads and through the oak-lined villages of Lüdingen and Riekenbostel to Kirchwalsede, home to the late-Romanesque St. Bartholomäus Church, built in the 12th century. The route continues through Westerwalsede and Unterstedt, across the small Wümme River, and through the “Gold Villages” of Waffensen and Hassendorf—which received awards in the “Our Village Has a Future” competition—on to Sottrum. Here, the St. Georg Bicycle Path Church and the Town Hall of the joint municipality of the same name forms the centerpiece of the townscape.

From Sottrum, we travel via Reeßum, the A1 highway, and Taaken to Stapel. Next come the herb village of Horstedt and Nartum, whose most famous resident is the writer Walter Kempowski. We follow the Königsschleife through Steinfeld and the Schierk Forest to Kirchtimke, where, just before the St. Lambertus Church turn left toward Hepstedt. We reach Breddorf via the Ummel Forest.

On the roads of the Breddorf Moor, we reach Heudorf in the neighboring district of Osterholz. We follow the bike path next to the L165 for just under a kilometer and leave it in Ostersode. The tour leads along undulating but easily navigable moor roads to Kreuzkuhle Peat Boat Harbor and thus back in the Wümme District. In the inn located across the street, the peat boatmen used to have to pay their customs duties.

We follow the Oste-Hamme Canal to Gnarrenburg, which marks the halfway point of our tour. Gnarrenburg once became world-famous due to the invention of the medical dropper. Today, with its many places to stop for refreshments, it’s a great spot to take a break.

From Gnarrenburg, the route continues through the Brilliter Moor and along quiet, winding, well-paved side roads to Oese, where the St. Christophorus Church, said to be the most beautiful village church between the Elbe and Weser rivers. The Poggemühlen Manor, Barchel, and Oerel are the next stops on the tour before we switch to the bike path along the heavily trafficked B71/74 near Glinde for just under 3 km. Just before the highly visible Bremervörde correctional facility, we leave the federal highway and head via “Am Steinberg” to the northernmost point of this tour, the Höhne forest area.

A short time later, we reach the heart of the city of Bremervörde, the picturesque Vörder See with the Nature and Adventure Park. This park and the center of Ostestadt offer plenty of opportunities for a quick break or a stop for refreshments before we continue our ride.

Well-rested, we get back in the saddle. After crossing the picturesque Oste River, we leave Bremervörde and take side roads through Hesedorf, Byhusen, Farven, Ohrel, Haaßel, and Twistenbostel, rejoining the Oste River just before Brauel after 33 km.

After just under 500 m, we leave the bike path next to the B71 to reach the town of Zeven via Braueler Weg. Zeven is an important regional hub, home to numerous shopping options, cafés, and restaurants set against historic backdrops, such as the Zeven Monastery Museum and the Königin-Christinenhaus are located. Ideal for refueling before the final push.

The final 40 km of this “royal” stage follow the K142 to Frankenbostel and Rüspel, before we head toward Ehestorf, back onto the A1 highway, and on to Sothel and Westeresch via quieter side roads. On the Westerholzer Weg, we cycle toward the county seat, where the “Königsschleife” ends after a total of 204 km. Numerous cafés and restaurants in the city center provide the perfect setting to reflect on the tour and treat yourself. For those looking to cool off or warm up tired muscles in the sauna, the Ronolulu Water Park with Spa—the perfect way to end the day.

The road bike tours in the district of Rotenburg (Wümme) are neither signposted nor marked on site. GPX tracks are available for orientation (e.g. here on the page as a download).

Information and GPX tracks for all road bike tours in the district of Rotenburg (Wümme) can be found at app.nordwaerts.de, nordwaerts.de, komoot.com and strava.com or in the handy folding brochure.