Experience the real adventure

Freiburg - Colmar Cycling Loop: 5 Days through Alsace, Kaiserstuhl and the Black Forest

What makes this loop work is the constant change in scale. No stage stays in the same landscape for long. The opening ride already shows that this is not designed as a flat leisure spin: the climb towards Katzental adds real elevation early on, before the Markgräflerland opens up with views towards Pfaffenweiler, Staufen and the Rhine plain. The second stage has a wider rhythm. Short vineyard climbs, open tracks and longer stretches across the plain make it easier to ride, but never anonymous. The third day is the tour’s small mountain chapter. The climb to Trois-Épis is the longest continuous effort of the route and pays off with a clear shift in perspective: the Alsatian plain below, the German hills across the valley. After that, the riding becomes more controlled, flatter and more open, with generous space between the villages. The fourth stage is the most compact and intense. Short climbs, small roads, vineyard slopes and constant changes of direction shape the day. Lenzenberg, Vogelsangpassstraße, Schelinger Höhe and Texaspass give it its structure. Riders who enjoy repeated climbs followed by quick changes in direction will probably find this the strongest section of the route. The finish in Oberrotweil keeps the logic intact: no long transfer, just a stop right inside the wine-growing landscape. The final day leaves the vineyards quietly at first, but still adds one serious Black Forest section towards St. Peter. That keeps the tour from ending as a simple ride back. Instead, it closes with a proper final climb, a high point above 700 metres, and a long return towards Freiburg. The loop feels complete: city, vineyards, open plain, Alsace, volcanic hills and Black Forest edge. A strong choice for a long weekend with clear daily stages, varied terrain and enough climbing to make each day feel earned.