old salt street
On a historical trail from Lübeck to Lüneburg
The 100-km-long alte salzstrasse* (Old Salt Route) connects the old Hanseatic cities Lüneburg and Lübeck. Where in the Middle Ages valuable salt was transported to Lübeck along sandy trails, today cyclists discover the beauty and variety of the Duchy of Lauenburg on this historical trade route.
As a seasoning and preservative, salt was one of the most important items of trade for hundreds of years, and cities like Lüneburg and Lübeck owe their power and wealth to it.
Route and sights of interest
The tour consists of a main route (95 km) and a scenic route (109 km).
The main route runs through the Duchy of Lauenburg from Lüneburg (Lower Saxony) to Lübeck. Cyclists pass through the cities of Lauenburg, Büchen, Mölln and Krummsee. Along the way you will discover the Lüne cloister, the Scharnebeck ship hoist, many sluices and a wire ferry.
Enjoy the charming lake landscape that surrounds Mölln and pay a visit to the Eulenspiegel well. For nature lovers in particular, the 109-km scenic route is very attractive. It begins at Witzeeze and stretches along the undulating landscape of the Lauenburg Lakes Natural Park. From there you continue on towards Lübeck, where you can marvel at the grand town houses, historical salt stores and the spectacular Holsten Gate.
Getting there and back
There are rail connections to the cities of Lüneburg, Lauenburg, Büchen, Mölln, Ratzeburg und Lübeck. The trains go every hour and you can bring your bike on board.
Terrain and difficulty of the route
Terrain:
The comfortable route was redeveloped in 2004 and the majority of it runs along well-constructed sand paths and quiet roads with minimal traffic.
Relief:
The route is mostly flat. There are small ascents on the scenic route.
Signage:
The cycle path is fully signposted and marked with specific logos.
Information boards:
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Difficulty level:
The route is easy to ride and is suitable for beginners, experienced cyclists or families with children.
Places to stop or stay the night
Picnic areas, shelters, refuges, barbecue areas and playgrounds are available at various intervals along the entire route.
In the towns, the cafes and restaurants invite you to take a break and indulge yourself.
For overnight stays we can recommend youth hostels, campsites or one of the numerous ‘bed and bike’ establishments along the alte salzstrasse*. You can find lists of these accommodation options at www.hlms.de and www.bettundbike.de.
Bicycle hire and repair service
There are bicycle hire and repair services in the towns of Lüneburg, Artlenburg (Elbe), Lauenburg, Mölln, Ratzeburg and Lübeck.
GPS-Data
You can download data for gps-devices, digital maps or google earth. The data is provided for the whole cycle route and for the following stages:
via Mölln
stage 1: Lauenburg – Mölln
stage 2: Mölln – Lübeck
data for the total route
download digital data (zip-file gpx, trk, kml, ovl | 0,1 MB)
via Ratzeburg
stage 1: Lauenburg – Büchen
stage 2: Büchen – Ratzeburg
stage 3: Ratzeburg – Lübeck
data for the total route
download digital data (zip-file gpx, trk, kml, ovl | 0,1 MB)
Reading tips and maps
Spiralo Radweg Alte salzstrasse (Alte salzstrasse Cycle Path, spiral-bound)
A travel guide with a map of cycle paths
Scale 1:50,000, BVA
Available from Herzogtum Lauenburg Marketing & Service GmbH
or in bookshops
9,95 €
„Naturpark Lauenburgische Seen“ (Lauenburg Lakes Natural Park, published by Studio Verlag)
Map of cycle paths, bridleways and footpaths
Scale 1:50,000
Available from Herzogtum Lauenburg Marketing & Service GmbH
or in bookshops
5,50 €
„Biosphärenreservat Schaalsee“ (Schaalsee Biosphere Reservation, published by Studio Verlag)
Map of cycle paths and footpaths
Scale 1:50,000
Available from Herzogtum Lauenburg Marketing & Service GmbH
or in bookshops
5,50 €
„Landschaften an Elbe und Bille“ (Landscapes on the Elbe and Bille rivers, published by Studio Verlag)
Map of cycle paths, bridleways and footpaths
Scale 1:50,000
Available from Herzogtum Lauenburg Marketing & Service GmbH
or in bookshops
5,- €
Information and booking
You can find more information at www.hlms.de.
erlebnisreich
Tourism and nature centre for the Duchy of Lauenburg
Stadthauptmannshof
Hauptstrasse 150
23879 Mölln
Phone: +49 (0)4542 856 860
Fax: 0 4542 856 865
erlebnisreich@hlms.de
www.hlms.de
downloads
- GPS-Data_Alte Salzstraße (126.87 kB)
© Thomas Ebelt