A 64 km loop through twelve wine villages on Germany's warmest extinct volcano — Burkheim's half-timbered old town, Badberg panorama and Breisach's Rhine view in one day.
The Kaiserstuhl is an extinct volcano in the western Breisgau, about 25 km northwest of Freiburg. The loop is 64 km long with around 800 m of climbing broken into short ramps, 90% paved. Start in Riegel am Kaiserstuhl, which is 25 minutes from Freiburg Hbf on the Breisgau S-Bahn. With an e-bike it is a relaxed full-day ride; without one it is an ambitious training day.
The route threads twelve historic wine villages — Endingen, Burkheim, Vogtsburg, Oberrotweil, Achkarren, Bickensohl, Ihringen, Wasenweiler, Boetzingen, Breisach am Rhein and back. The high point is the Badberg viewpoint with a panorama across the Vosges and the Black Forest. Best season: May to October, when the Strausse open and wine flows straight from the winemaker.
The tour roughly follows the signposted Kaiserstuhl cycling route but deliberately drops onto the prettier side roads through the rows of vines. To preserve battery, stay in eco mode through the flats and only switch to tour mode for the Achkarren Schlossberg climb. The ramps are short, rarely longer than 500 metres at a stretch.
| Section | km | Profile |
|---|---|---|
| Riegel to Endingen | 6 | flat |
| Endingen to Burkheim | 11 | rolling foothills |
| Burkheim to Vogtsburg-Oberrotweil | 5 | vineyards, easy |
| Oberrotweil to Achkarren | 3 | climb |
| Achkarren to Badberg to Bickensohl | 8 | high point 540 m |
| Bickensohl to Breisach | 9 | descent to Rhine |
| Breisach to Ihringen | 6 | Rhine plain |
| Ihringen to Wasenweiler to Boetzingen to Riegel | 16 | rolling foothills |
From Riegel-Malterdingen station the signposted bike route delivers you to Endingen in 20 minutes. The market square is one of the best preserved Renaissance ensembles on the Upper Rhine — town hall, Corkscrew Tower, market fountain. Quick espresso stop, then on.
Via Koenigschaffhausen and Bischoffingen to Burkheim am Kaiserstuhl. Mandatory stop: the medieval upper town with half-timbered alleys, castle ruin and Wednesday market. If you have time, push the bike up — the cobblestones are steep. From the top the view stretches across the Rhine plain into Alsace.
Along the Kaiserstuhl wine road you reach Vogtsburg, the political centre of the southern Kaiserstuhl. Oberrotweil hosts the Winzergenossenschaft Oberrotweil and several well known family estates. Direct sales are open on most days — buying Pinot Noir at the cellar door is often 20% cheaper than at retail.
Now comes the physical highlight. Via Achkarren with its iconic Schlossberg (volcanic rock — hence the famous Achkarrer Schlossberg wines), the route climbs up to the Badberg. The viewpoint sits at about 540 metres — on a clear day you can see the Vosges to the west, the Black Forest to the east and the Markgraeflerland to the south. Take your lunch break here.
The descent through Bickensohl and Ihringen to Breisach is the longest free-roll of the day. In Bickensohl the Strauss "Zur Krone" (May to October) is famous for cold platters with home-cured ham. In Ihringen — statistically the warmest place in Germany — several Strausse open onto inner courtyards. Breisach arrives in the late afternoon: St. Stephen's Minster sits on its cliff above the Rhine, with French Neuf-Brisach across the water.
If you ride the full loop, you close the circle along the eastern flank of the Kaiserstuhl. Through the wine villages of Wasenweiler and Boetzingen back to Riegel. This leg is less spectacular than the western descent, but quieter, with little Strausse off the main route.
The Kaiserstuhl is not a single mountain but a flat volcanic massif with eight main summits. Geology, climate and history make it unique: loess soils on volcanic rock, a Mediterranean microclimate corridor, Roman settlement traces, medieval town foundations and continuous wine cultivation since the high Middle Ages. This tour ties together the most important stops.
Strausse are the seasonal taverns winemakers run on their own farms — a Wuerttemberg and Baden speciality. Each winemaker is allowed to serve guests only four months per year, traditionally between May and October. The sign is a broom of twigs above the door. Inside you get open wine from the family vineyard, a homemade Vesperteller with bacon, ham, cheese and farmhouse bread, often Flammkuchen or Maultaschen as well.
| Village | Strauss / recommendation | Season |
|---|---|---|
| Bickensohl | Strauss "Zur Krone" — cold platter with home-cured ham | May–Oct |
| Ihringen | Several Strausse around the market square | May–Oct |
| Achkarren | Cooperative tasting room open year-round | year-round |
| Burkheim | Family estates in the upper town, usually May–Sept | May–Sept |
| Oberrotweil | Winzergenossenschaft Oberrotweil, direct sales | year-round |
Source: Tourist information Kaiserstuhl-Tuniberg — current Strausse opening dates on the website
If you take wine home, it pays to know what separates the Kaiserstuhl from neighbouring regions. Three recommendations:
Tip: six bottles fit comfortably into a pannier. For more, ask the winemaker to ship — within Germany most charge a flat €9 for a six-bottle case.
Arriving by train is the most elegant option. The Breisgau S-Bahn (RVF lines S1 and S11) connects Freiburg Hbf with Riegel-Malterdingen every 30 minutes. Journey time: 25 minutes. You need an RVF day ticket (€7.30 for one person, as of 2026) plus a bike ticket (a flat €3.40 for the day in the network). On double-deck carriages the bike zones are on the lower deck — watch for the pictogram.
| Aspect | Detail |
|---|---|
| Freiburg to Riegel | Breisgau S-Bahn S1/S11, 25 min |
| Return from Breisach | Breisgau S-Bahn, 30 min to Freiburg |
| Ticket | RVF day ticket + bike ticket |
| Battery draw (500 Wh e-bike) | ~60–80% over 64 km in tour mode |
| Best season | May–June and September–October |
| Signage | Kaiserstuhl cycling route (red logo) |
| Surface | ~90% paved, rest firm gravel |
Weather: The Kaiserstuhl is the warmest spot in Germany — in high summer (July/August) it edges over 30°C, so start early or ride the late-afternoon-into-evening slot. Spring and autumn are ideal. Rainfall probability is much lower than in the Black Forest because the Kaiserstuhl sits in the rain shadow.
Battery range: A 500 Wh e-bike handles the 64 km easily in tour mode. If you ride permanently in sport or turbo mode, take a charger as backup — Oberrotweil, Breisach and Endingen have public e-bike charging stations.
For the Kaiserstuhl loop a standard trekking e-bike is enough — no full suspension, no e-MTB required. What matters is enough battery (500 Wh minimum), a rear rack for the wine bottles and comfortable geometry for six hours in the saddle.
Breisgau S-Bahn (S1/S11) from Freiburg Hbf to Riegel-Malterdingen, 25 minutes. RVF day ticket plus bike ticket. Double-deck carriages have marked bike zones. If you prefer to ride out, go via the Mooswald — about 30 km each way on top of the loop.
Typically May to October. Each winemaker is allowed to serve four months per year and the windows rotate. Current list at the Kaiserstuhl-Tuniberg tourist office or directly from the winemaker. Cold platters, Flammkuchen, open wine from the home farm.
With an e-bike, yes. High point 540 m, around 800 m of total climbing. The ramps are short and the motor handles them easily. Without a motor this is a demanding training ride for experienced cyclists.
Yes, many winemakers and cooperatives run cellar tours — usually with advance booking. Larger addresses: Winzergenossenschaft Oberrotweil, Badischer Winzerkeller in Breisach, smaller family estates in Burkheim, Achkarren, Ihringen.
From Riegel-Malterdingen the Breisgau S-Bahn runs every 30 minutes to Freiburg. Alternative: from Breisach directly on the Breisgau S-Bahn — 30 minutes. Last connections around 11 pm. The bike ticket is included in the RVF day ticket bundle.