Because of the Corona crisis, people are likely to avoid long trips abroad and vacation at home during the summer holidays.
That is why we offer our readers many tips for excursions on foot or by bike - even beyond the district boundaries.
Today: A mountain bike tour from Schongau to Lechbruck and back.
Schongau / Lechbruck -
One thing in advance: Anyone who sets out on the 42-kilometer route should be in good shape and have a decent mountain bike.
It is often uphill and downhill, sometimes over hill and dale.
Our guinea pig from the editorial office had not met all the requirements and was therefore panting a lot over the last few kilometers.
He needed more than six hours for the route (including breaks), an experienced mountain biker should do it in a significantly shorter time.
Start and finish is the historic old town in Schongau.
From Marienplatz it goes over Löwenstraße to Christophstraße and from there down Frauenberg to Marktoberdorfer Straße.
Behind the school center is the only climb that is accompanied by the smell of exhaust gas and engine noise.
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Cyclists can see this picturesque farm after about 30 kilometers east of the Lech.
© Von Rohland
And, as is well known, the rest of the bike ride along Marktoberdorfer Straße to the outskirts is not subject to amusement tax.
At the end of the village at the level of the Aldi market, it finally turns left into Römerstraße.
From now on, the tour is a pure nature experience with breathtaking views.
On the tarred Roman road, it is initially very pleasant to drive south through the forest and the agricultural surroundings.
After a total of nine kilometers, at Burggen you turn left to the first highlight of the trip: the view high above the Litzau loop of the Lech is always a pleasure.
And especially when the sky is clear and the view of the mountains is clear.
Several benches and a wooden lounger invite you to take a long break.
A pebble mobile ensures that you pass the time.
Nature experience with great views
The representative of the editorial team wasted half an hour at the vantage point.
Also to read how the conservationists cherish and care for the Lech's gem.
As is well known, in the past they ensured that the Lech loop near Schongau was saved and not drowned in a barrage.
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Pure idyll: there is usually not much going on on the secondary routes.
© Von Rohland
From the Litzau loop, the journey continues to the Lechhalde near Burggen.
From there, a dirt road leads sharply to the left down to the Steinbach and the Bock family's farm.
The Lech is a long way away on this section of the route.
The landscape with its gentle hills in front of the alpine panorama is no less exciting than the river.
After driving 13.6 kilometers, the first demanding part of the tour follows, for which the mountain bike is essential.
A trail goes downhill through the forest.
Especially when it is wet, an inexperienced driver should get off the steep terrain and push, safety first!
The wild ride is 600 meters long before the trail joins a leisurely tar road.
This then leads to the Lech barrage in Dessau and on to Lechbruck - the stunning Alpine panorama always in front of your eyes.
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The rapids in Lechbruck: In the Flößerdorf we recommend a longer rest and lunch.
Because other places to stop for refreshments are few and far between.
© Von Rohland
If you are already tired, you can shorten the tour by crossing the Lech near Urspring and heading north again.
But then he misses a lot.
For example the drive through the stately camping site on Lechbrucker See with waving tourists.
And of course he misses the well-deserved rest in Lechbruck.
The overcrowded miniature golf course shows that tourism is booming in the rafting community.
The ride on the Lechstausee is still very pleasant, at least on weekdays, and the rapids upstream are picturesque.
Whoever gets tired can take short cuts
Then, however, mountain bikers have to briefly take the State Road 2059 to cross the Lech.
And the Lechuferweg right behind the bridge is taboo.
According to the municipality, this is reserved for hikers.
The journey continues via Drachenleite, Urspring and Illach before the mountain biker comes out again at the northern end of the Lechsee.
Over mostly paved roads it goes uphill and downhill back to Schongau - through Hirschau, Riesen, over the hamlets of Stiegl, Geisenberger to shortly before Kreut.
The legs become heavier, the breaks longer.
The exhaustion can be endured when the Auerberg greets you or a herd of horses gallops across the paddock.
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If you enter the tour data in the “komoot” app, which is popular with cyclists, you will find out that you are embarking on a medium-difficulty mountain bike tour, for which a good level of fitness is required.
"Basic technical knowledge is sufficient," they say.
You should definitely have something in your luggage: enough drinks and food.
Refreshments are few and far between on the route.
We recommend starting in the morning and having lunch in Lechbruck.
Of course, it works the other way around. The points on the left on the map show some sections of the route recommended by "komoot" members: 1 and 2 the viewpoints on the Litzau loop, 3 a "beautiful road with no traffic", 4 the view of the Auerberg , 5 the view of the Riesener See, 6 another “fantastic view” and 7 “the view of the Lech”.
The editorial team selected the route itself; in addition to the ones mentioned, there are numerous other highlights.
© Graphic: komoot
On the Kreuter Weg it finally goes near the Lechtal bridge over the B 472, the destination is in sight.
A pleasant descent through the forest to the Schongau Lech barrage is the last stage before the chimneys of the UPM paper mill greet you.
Past the splash and over the fairground, it goes up the mountain back to the old town of Schongau.
The traveler has more than earned the arrival beer.
Further tour information:
If you enter the tour data in the "komoot" app, which is popular with cyclists, you will find out that you are embarking on a medium-difficulty mountain bike tour, for which a good level of fitness is required.
"Basic technical knowledge is sufficient," they say.
You should definitely have something in your luggage: enough drinks and food.
Refreshments are few and far between on the route.
We recommend starting in the morning and having lunch in Lechbruck.
Of course, it works the other way around.
The points drawn on a map
show some sections of the route recommended by "komoot" members: 1 and 2 the viewpoints on the Litzau loop, 3 a "beautiful road without traffic", 4 the view of the Auerberg, 5 the view of the Riesener See , 6 another “fantastic view” and 7 “the view of the Lech”.
The editorial team selected the route itself; in addition to the ones mentioned, there are numerous other highlights.
Also read:
Excursion tip from the editorial team: The Wolfratshauser Bankerlweg.
Excursion tip from the editors: Deep in the west of Weilheim.