© photocompany / HLMS

Old Salt Route

Welcome to the Duchy of Lauenburg

The 116-km Alte Salzstrasse links the old Hanseatic cities of Lüneburg and Lübeck. Where valuable salt was once transported along sandy roads to Lübeck during the Middle Ages, cyclists today can discover the attractions of the Duchy of Lauenburg in all its diversity on the historic trade route.
As a spice and preservative, salt was one of the most important trade goods for many centuries, to which cities such as Lüneburg and Lübeck owe their power and wealth.
The long-distance cycle route Alte Salzstrasse was named a 3-star quality cycle route by the German cycling federation ADFC.

Use­ful in­form­a­tion

Along the route, you will find the Lüne Monastery, the Scharnebeck ship lift as well as numerous locks and a transporter bridge.

Enjoy the attractive lake landscape surrounding Mölln and pay a visit to the Eulenspiegel Spring. From here, the route continues to Lübeck, where you can admire grand town houses, historic salt stores and the impressive Holstentor. The Baltic Sea and its spa area boast the seaside resort Travemünde with a promenade, the four-masted barque “Passat” and a lighthouse.

 

© Tourismus- und Naturzentrum für das Herzogtum Lauenburg

Arrival and departure

You will find travel connections to the rail network Deutsche Bahn in the cities of Lüneburg, Lauenburg, Büchen, Mölln, and Lübeck as well as Lübeck-Travemünde. Trains run every hour and can accommodate bicycles.

Route conditions and degree of difficulty

  • The easily passable route leads largely over dirt roads and streets with little traffic.
  • Most of the route is flat. There are some small gradients on the secondary route.
  • The cycle route is fully signposted and marked with logos.
  • The route has a low level of difficulty and is suitable for beginners, hobby cyclists as well as for families with children.

Rest stops and overnight accommodation

Rest stops, huts and shelters as well as barbeque sites and playgrounds are available along the entire route at different distances.

In the cities, cafés and restaurants invite you to take a break and relax.

For overnight stays, we recommend youth hostels, camp sites or one of the numerous Bed & Bike facilities along the Alte Salzstrasse. You can find lists of the relevant accommodation sites at www.hlms.de (in German) and www.bettundbike.de.

You can also find cycling accommodation on the Radroutenplaner (in German).

 

You can find further information at www.hlms.de (in German).

erlebnisreich
Tourismus- und Naturzentrum für das Herzogtum Lauenburg
Stadthauptmannshof
Hauptstrasse 150
23879 Mölln
Phone: +49 45 42–85 68 60
Fax: +49 45 42-85 68 65
eMail: erlebnisreich@hlms.de
Internet: www.herzogtum-lauenburg.de (in German)

 

GPS data Old Salt Route