Würzburg to Nuremberg

Day 1: Nuremberg - Erlangen
Day 2: Erlangen - Bamberg, 28 or 36 mi. (45 or 57 km)
Day 3: Bamberg - Hassfurt - Schweinfurt, 23 mi. (36 km ) or extend to 33 mi.  (52 km)
Day 4: Schweinfurt - Volkach, 19 mi. (31 km)
Day 5: Volkach - Marktbreit, 22 (35 km) or extend to  26 mi. (41 km)
Day 6: Markbreit - Würzburg, 19 mi. (31 km)
Day 7: Würzburg

Day 1: Nuremberg - Erlangen
Check-in is between 3:30 and 4:00 pm. At 5:00 pm, the Merlijn will set sail for Erlangen where there is an overnight stay. As you enjoy a welcome drink, you will be introduced to the crew, the ship, and the tour.  Following your safety briefing, you depart from Nüremberg and soon pass the first lock of many on this trip. Each lock, like a stairway, will be one step further down the mountain you are navigating. While you enjoy the afternoon cruise from the cozy lounge or one of the terraces on board, you’ll get a last glimpse of Nuremberg while sailing through the city. Dinner will be served during the cruise. In the evening, there will be an opportunity for an after-dinner stroll.

Day 2: Erlangen - Bamberg, 28 or 36 mi. (45 or 57 km)
After breakfast and a bike fitting, your cycle tour will start, leading you through the fields of the ‘Regnitz valley’, which, from south to north, connects the cities of Nuremberg, Fürth, Erlangen, and Forchheim. The roads are well paved as it is an official ‘Radweg’ (cycle route). Enjoy the wonderful natural surroundings of what is generally considered to be Germany’s most beautiful bike route! You are offered two route options for the day, the "Canal Route", which leads mostly along the canal and several interesting towns, or the longer and steeper, "Valley Route’" which leads through the valley. Both routes cross each other several times, especially at the must-see city of Forcheim with its half-timber houses and its old guardhouse. Visit the Kaiserpfalz, the picturesque prince-bishop castle built in the late 14th century, well-known for its precious, late-gothic wall paintings. The building houses the Pfalzmuseum (entrance included) with three special museums, the Archaeological Museum Oberfranken, the Municipal Museum, and the Traditional Costume Museum. Your first cycling day ends in charming Bamberg,  the city of seven hills, a very charming, historic bishops’ town, and home to Villa Concordia, the historic lock no.100, the water castle, the baroque house on the bridge, and the former fishing settlement of Klein Venedig (Little Venice), all emphasizing the close connection between town and river. You’ll be offered an included guided beer-themed city tour, because Bamberg is known as the city of beer!  The Merlijn will be moored outside the city, and after your visit to the town, you can ride your bike to the ship at your own pace. Dinner will be served on board.

Day 3: Bamberg - Hassfurt - Schweinfurt, 23 mi. (36 km) or extend to 33 mi. (52 km)
Leaving the Rhine-Main-Danube-Canal, which has connected the Rhine to the Danube River since 1992, you bike towards a new region. The Merlijn will navigate the Main River, tempered with locks and dams. After breakfast on board, the guided bike tour will start. You will bike along the Main Radweg (cycle path). The slogan the Germans use to describe this bike path is "cycle, marvel, and enjoy"! The route will follow the river, passing by several vineyards, the famous Maria Limbach pilgrimage church, and several little towns filled with half-timber houses. You will cycle to the town of Eltmann and then head for Hassfurt, famous for its late Gothic Ritter chapel and a late Gothic church in the market square.  The boat awaits you at the edge of the city to take you on an afternoon cruise, or you can extend your bike tour and peddle on to Schweinfurt, where Merlijn will dock in the city. Schweinfurt (literally translated Swine Ford) has an old center full of cozy little areas, as well as a town hall, tower, and marketplace, with dozens of statues of Schweine’ (pigs) all about the town.

Day 4: Schweinfurt – Volkach, 19 mi. (31 km)
You continue cycling the Main Radweg. Just before the Main Valley slowly opens up and fewer vineyards are visible, you can visit a cultural highlight, the pilgrimage church of Maria im Weingarten, where the famous Madonna im Rosenkranz by Tilman Riemenschneider is displayed. The tour will end in Volkach. Dinner is served on board, and afterward, there is an included wine-tasting session in town.

Day 5: Volkach - Marktbreit, 22 mi. (35 km) or extend to 26 mi. (41 km)
Another delicious breakfast is served on board after which the bike tour will start. You’ll pass villages that wine connoisseurs will be familiar with, such as Nordheim and Sommerach. Further along the bike path, we’ll pass the ancient towns of Dettelbach, where you might like to try some traditional German sweets from the bakery, and Kitzingen, famous for its leaning tower. Today’s destination is the charming village of Marktbreit, where you’ll have the chance to enjoy dinner in the evening at a local restaurant, at your own expense.

Day 6: Markbreit - Würzburg, 19 mi. (31 km
Leaving Marktbreit and its historic center behind, you continue along the Main River. The next port of call is Würzburg, which is a definite highlight of the trip. Explore this beautiful Baroque city, walk up the gradually ascending road, and climb the ‘Würzburg Residence” fortress, which offers a magnificent view of the historic center of Würzburg and its many towers. Enjoy a guided tour of the Residence, after which you can make your way to the ship in your own time. In the evening, a captain’s dinner will be served on board.

Day 7:  Würzburg
End of tour. Disembarkation after breakfast.

Would you like to stay on board and travel longer on the Merlijn? This is an excellent trip to combine with the successive Würzburg to Mainz Bike & Barge cruise. This combination means your tour will run from Nuremberg to Mainz.

Day 1: Würzburg - Ochsenfurt
Day 2: Ochsenfurt - Volkach, 40 km or extend to 46 km 
Day 3: Volkach - Schweinfurt, 31 km
Day 4: Schweinfurt - Hassfurt - Bamberg, 36 km or extend to 52 km
Day 5: Bamberg - Erlangen, 45 km or 57 km
Day 6: Erlangen - Nuremberg, 32 km
Day 7: Nuremberg

Would you like to stay on board and travel longer on the Merlijn? This is an excellent trip to combine with the successive Mainz - Würzburg Bike & Barge cruise. This combination means your tour will run from Mainz to Nuremberg.