Cycle Route M – A leisurely bike ride between Meissen and the Moritzburg Cultural Landscape

23.78 km long
Difficulty: medium
Condition: easy
Great panorama
Cycling
  • 2:00 h
  • 23.78 km
  • 30 m
  • 110 m
  • 100 m
  • 201 m
  • 101 m
  • Start: either in Meißen-Roßmarkt or at the Moritzburg Castle parking lot
  • Destination: either in Meißen-Roßmarkt or at the Moritzburg Castle parking lot
The M Cycle Route connects Meissen and Moritzburg, offering the chance to combine the many sights of these historic towns with a scenic ride through the countryside.

The route can be started in either Moritzburg or Meissen. Due to a climb of about 100 meters in elevation in Weinböhla, the more leisurely option starting in Moritzburg is recommended.

In Moritzburg, the tour starts right at the castle parking lot, directly across from the famous Baroque castle. The bus stop and the tourist information office are 50 meters away. You can enjoy the view of the Großteich as you cycle around it to the west. The Käthe Kollwitz House is also located directly along the route and invites you to visit the former residence of the famous artist. After a few meters, the route turns into the large forest area, the Friedewald. Following signposted bike paths, the route leads through nature that once served as a place of relaxation and hunting for the Saxon electors and kings of the time.

After about a 10 km ride, the König-Albert-Aussichtsturm( King Albert Observation Tower) appears on the left, set slightly back behind some trees. Built in 1898, this tower is open to the public on Sundays and holidays from April through October and offers a magnificent view of the surrounding area. Outside of opening hours, you can also pick up a key at the Weinböhla Tourist Information office.

In the center of Weinböhla, near the church, you’ll find the VELOCIUM, Saxony’s bicycle experience center. A visit to the exhibition is a must for every cycling enthusiast, but it’s also well-suited for families. Here, visitors learn about Weinböhla’s over 200-year cycling tradition, as well as modern cycling knowledge. Children and teenagers can test their skills on a bike course.

Passing the Nassau Sports Hall and the DB train stop (public transit), you leave Weinböhla and travel through the village of Neusörnewitz to the floodplains of the Nassau Nature Reserve. This nature-oriented route offers views across the Elbe Valley and then leads into Saxony’s smallest low mountain range, the Spaargebirge. Its most striking peak is the Boselspitze, which can be climbed on foot. A fantastic view toward Dresden awaits here. Below the Spaargebirge lies the village of Sörnewitz, which offers several wineries and places to stop for refreshments right along the Elbe Cycle Route.

The tour then follows the Elbe Cycle Route toward Meissen. More wineries and their terraced vineyards line the path on the right, just before you can already see the striking towers of Meissen Cathedral. The tour finally ends after crossing the Elbe in Meissen’s historic old town, with its numerous sights such as Albrechtsburg Meissen, Meissen Cathedral, the MEISSEN Experience —Europe’s first porcelain manufactory—the City Museum, and the Frauenkirche.

Waypoints

Start
Start
either in Meißen-Roßmarkt or at the Moritzburg Castle parking lot
Cathedral of Meissen
Church
Destination
Destination
either in Meißen-Roßmarkt or at the Moritzburg Castle parking lot

Good to know

Best to visit

suitable
Depends on weather

Directions

The route starts in Moritzburg at the castle parking lot and is well marked with the green "Route M" symbol. Turn left at Moritzburg Castle and, on the western side of the castle pond, turn left at the parking lot onto Steinernen Weg into the Friedewald.

Ride straight through the Friedewald Forest on the marked trail and cross the S81. Then take the F-Weg toward Weinböhla, continuing along the forest path, forest road, and Sachsenstraße past the train station toward the city center.

Cycle along the railroad tracks and leave Weinböhla again via Sörnewitzer Straße. Continue on Köhlerstraße toward Neusörnewitz, then turn left to reach Sörnewitz via Boselweg.

Follow the signs to the Elbe Cycle Route and turn right immediately upon reaching it. Follow the bike path for about 4 km to Meissen. In the city, use the first bridge to cross the Elbe, arriving at your destination in Meissen’s Old Town.

Tour information

  • Cultural Interesting

  • Stop at an Inn

Equipment

The route is well suited for touring bikes, e-bikes, and gravel bikes.

Directions & Parking facilities

Directions via the A 4 from Dresden: Take the Dresden-Wilder Mann exit, turn right toward Moritzburg (approx. 10 km) via Boxdorf

Directions via the A 13 from Berlin: Take the Radeburg exit and drive via Berbisdorf to Moritzburg (approx. 9 km)

Directions via the S 179 from Dresden, the S 81 from Weinböhla, and Radeburger Straße from Radeburg

Moritzburg:

Moritzburg Castle Parking Lot

Numerous other parking spaces are available in Moritzburg

Meissen:

On the right bank of the Elbe: P+R parking lot at the Meissen bus station and free parking

along the Elbe On the left bank of the Elbe: Ample parking available along the Elbe and in the old town

Getting to Moritzburg:

by bus to Moritzburg, the castle, or the market:

Take bus 405 from Radeburg and Coswig

Take bus 458 from Großenhain

by bus #477 from Radeburg, Großenhain, and Dresden

By train

Lößnitzgrundbahn to Moritzburg Station – from Radebeul Ost or Radeburg

Departure from Meissen:

S-Bahn S1 from Meissen Station or Old Town with numerous bus lines from Meissen, Bus Station

Timetable information: Verkehrsverbund Oberelbe

Saxony Travel Information

Additional information

Literature

Author

Dresden Elbland Redaktion

Organization

Dresden Elbland

License (master data)

Dresden Elbland Redaktion
License: no copyright required (Public domain) (no copyright)

Author´s Tip / Recommendation of the author

Use the bike rental "MietOn" along Route M:

Moritzburg: north side of the castle car park

Weinböhla: DB train stop

Meißen: tourist information at the market

Safety guidelines

Please drive with extra caution on the downhill stretch in the town of Weinböhla.

Map

Nearby