Monks’ Trail (Mönchsweg)

Monks' Way

Monks’ Trail (Mönchsweg)

A collection of 14 cycling routes.

Overview

About this collection

A classic long-distance ride across northern Germany, the Monks’ Trail links historic churches and monastery sites between the Weser region and the Baltic coast. Think wide fields, red-brick towns, lakes, and quiet villages—perfect touring bike territory.

The route is well signposted and mostly rolls along quiet country roads, bike paths, and village streets, with a few stretches of gravel, cobbles, or forest track in between. It’s largely flat with gentle ups and downs, so it’s friendly for multi-day touring with panniers. Road bikes can manage most of it; a wider tire makes the unpaved bits more comfortable.

Ride it in stages or go end to end—both directions work. You’ll pass plenty of bakeries, farm stands, and small-town stops, and there are regular train links in larger towns if you want to shorten a day. Expect open landscapes (and some wind), old brick Gothic churches, and a relaxed, rural vibe.

This collection brings together the stages of the Monks’ Trail so you can pick sections that fit your time and style. Mostly paved, mostly quiet, and loaded with history—easy to plan, easy to enjoy.

14
Routes
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Duration
534.6 km
Distance
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Avg. speed
1,821 m
Ascent
1,840 m
Descent

Monks’ Trail (Mönchsweg)

Routes in this collection

All 14 routes in this collection can be opened on the map or in the Bikemap App for more details, where you can adjust them in the route planner, or download them as GPX or KML file. Use them as a template for planning your own rides, or let Bikemap navigate you along them directly.

Mönchsweg: Elsdorf – Heeslingen
Official

Mönchsweg: Elsdorf – Heeslingen

Cycling route in Elsdorf, Lower Saxony, Germany

Short, almost flat stage on the Mönchsweg from Elsdorf to Heeslingen. About 10.7 km mostly on paved paths and quiet side roads, with hardly any elevation gain – perfect for a relaxed evening ride. You roll through the rural Rotenburger Land past fields and small villages and arrive relaxed in Heesl…
10.7 km
Distance
33 m
Ascent
22 m
Descent
Mönchsweg: Elsdorf – Lilienthal
Official

Mönchsweg: Elsdorf – Lilienthal

Cycling route in Elsdorf, Lower Saxony, Germany

Along the Monks' Way from Elsdorf to Lilienthal, you roll over 41 km mostly on quiet roads and paths. Hardly any elevation (about 100 m) makes the stage relaxing; there are short gravel sections. You start in the rural district of Rotenburg (Wümme) and end up at the outskirts of Bremen in Lilientha…
41 km
Distance
102 m
Ascent
123 m
Descent
Mönchsweg: Lilienthal – Bremen
Official

Mönchsweg: Lilienthal – Bremen

Cycling route in Lilienthal, Lower Saxony, Germany

Easy stage on the Mönchsweg from Lilienthal to Bremen: about 21 km, almost flat (approx. 40 meters elevation), mostly on asphalt and quiet side roads, with short gravel sections. You roll relaxed from the surrounding area into the Hanseatic city and follow the route all the way to Bremen city centr…
21.4 km
Distance
38 m
Ascent
22 m
Descent
Mönchsweg: Osten – Elsdorf
Official

Mönchsweg: Osten – Elsdorf

Cycling route in Osten, Lower Saxony, Germany

On the Mönchsweg, you'll roll from the east along the Oste River, known for its historic aerial ferry, leisurely to Elsdorf in the Rotenburg district. About 105 km, almost flat (around 300 m elevation gain). Mostly quiet roads and paths, lots of asphalt, plus some gravel sections – ideal for a trek…
105.2 km
Distance
297 m
Ascent
323 m
Descent
Mönchsweg: Drochtersen – Wischhafen
Official

Mönchsweg: Drochtersen – Wischhafen

Cycling route in Drochtersen, Lower Saxony, Germany

Short, flat stage on the Mönchsweg from Drochtersen to Wischhafen. Approximately 11 km along mostly paved, quiet paths – ideal for a relaxed ride through the Elbe marshes. Starting in Drochtersen in the Kehdinger Land region, with the destination in Wischhafen, known for the Elbe ferry to Glückstad…
11 km
Distance
3 m
Ascent
0 m
Descent
Mönchsweg: Kellinghusen – Glückstadt
Official

Mönchsweg: Kellinghusen – Glückstadt

Cycling route in Kellinghusen, Schleswig-Holstein, Germany

On the Mönchsweg from Kellinghusen to Glückstadt, you cycle almost entirely flat through the Stör and Elbe marshes. Start at the Stör in Kellinghusen, then mostly on paved, quiet roads and paths. Wide fields, brick towns, dikes – really relaxing. After about 61 km, Glückstadt on the Elbe awaits wit…
60.9 km
Distance
76 m
Ascent
75 m
Descent
Mönchsweg: Bad Bramstedt – Kellinghusen
Official

Mönchsweg: Bad Bramstedt – Kellinghusen

Cycling route in Bad Bramstedt, Schleswig-Holstein, Germany

Short and relaxed: on the Mönchsweg from Bad Bramstedt to Kellinghusen. Around 27 km, almost no elevation gain. Mostly quiet roads and farm tracks, with a few gravel sections. Start in the spa town of Bad Bramstedt, finish in Kellinghusen on the Stör River, known for its ceramic tradition. Ideal as…
27.4 km
Distance
68 m
Ascent
53 m
Descent
Mönchsweg: Bad Segeberg – Bad Bramstedt
Official

Mönchsweg: Bad Segeberg – Bad Bramstedt

Cycling route in Bad Segeberg, Schleswig-Holstein, Germany

Relaxed section on the Mönchsweg from Bad Segeberg to Bad Bramstedt. Starts at the Kalkberg and the Karl May plays, then through Holstein fields and meadows, mostly on quiet paths, with some gravel sections. Gently rolling, about 43 km, moderate ascent – doable in half a day. In Bad Bramstedt, the …
42.7 km
Distance
244 m
Ascent
209 m
Descent
Mönchsweg Glückstadt–Puttgarden: Bornhöved – Bad Segeberg
Official

Mönchsweg Glückstadt–Puttgarden: Bornhöved – Bad Segeberg

Cycling route in Bornhöved, Schleswig-Holstein, Germany

Short Mönchsweg stage from Bornhöved to Bad Segeberg: about 24 km through fields and small lakes, with gentle 100 meters of elevation gain. You mostly ride on quiet roads and paths, partly with gravel sections – easily doable at a good pace. Start in the historic Bornhöved and finish the ride at Ka…
24.3 km
Distance
107 m
Ascent
121 m
Descent
Mönchsweg: Högsdorf – Bornhöved
Official

Mönchsweg: Högsdorf – Bornhöved

Cycling route in Högsdorf, Schleswig-Holstein, Germany

Quiet stage on the Mönchsweg from Högsdorf to Bornhöved through the fields and hedgerows of Schleswig-Holstein. About 52 km with moderate 370 m of elevation gain – gently rolling, quite manageable. The surface is mixed: mostly paved, partly gravel and paths, mostly on quiet secondary roads. Start i…
51.9 km
Distance
374 m
Ascent
368 m
Descent
Mönchsweg: Högsdorf – Eutin
Official

Mönchsweg: Högsdorf – Eutin

Cycling route in Högsdorf, Schleswig-Holstein, Germany

Short section on the Mönchsweg from Högsdorf to Eutin: around 13.4 km through the hilly Holstein Switzerland. Mostly quiet secondary roads and paths, with some gravel and cobblestones in between – so best on a trekking bike. A few gentle climbs, nothing wild. The destination is Eutin with its castl…
13.4 km
Distance
107 m
Ascent
117 m
Descent
Mönchsweg: Eutin – Kasseedorf
Official

Mönchsweg: Eutin – Kasseedorf

Cycling route in Eutin, Schleswig-Holstein, Germany

Short section on the Mönchsweg from Eutin to Kasseedorf. Just under 6 km, mostly on wide paths and gravel (much unpaved) – ideal for trekking or gravel bikes. Gentle undulations, about 56 m of ascent, otherwise relaxed through fields and small forests of Holstein Switzerland. Start in Eutin with it…
6.1 km
Distance
56 m
Ascent
35 m
Descent