Cycling and Sightseeing: Leuchtenburg/Castelchiaro Round Tour at Lake Caldaro
Easy to moderate 24.9 km cycling tour around Lake Caldaro with an elevation difference of 170 m. Ideal during the bloom from mid to late April.
Road bike, E-Bike & Pleasure Cycling
The Leuchtenburg cycling round tour starts at Klughammer a.d.W. on Lake Caldaro and covers a distance of approximately 24.9 km with an elevation difference of about 170 m. The total ascent is around 290 m. This tour is suitable for touring bikes, trekking bikes, city bikes, and mountain bikes and primarily runs on paved, low-traffic roads. The best times for this tour are spring, late summer, autumn, and winter, with the route being particularly beautiful from mid to late April during the blooming season.
Directions
Start in Klughammer a.d.W. (approx. 225 m) and head north. At the first junction, turn right towards Laimburg and tackle a steep 1.5 km climb to Kreith Saddle (approx. 380 m). From there, enjoy magnificent views of Leuchtenburg before descending into the Adige Valley. Pass the 12th-century ruins of Laimburg Castle. Once in the valley, continue south for about 1.5 km, turn left across the motorway and Adige bridges, then immediately turn right onto the cycle path along the left bank of the Adige. Follow it to the railway underpass and continue along the left embankment to Neumarkt. Cross the Adige bridge to the railway station, turn right at the roundabout in front of the station, continue straight to the next roundabout and turn right towards Tramin a.d.W. After the underpass, turn right onto the second farm road and continue north to the main road between Tramin a.d.W. and Auer. Turn briefly right towards Auer, then almost immediately left onto another farm road. Follow this quiet road and at the end turn left back towards Lake Caldaro/Klughammer a.d.W.
Description to arrive at destination
- From the A22 motorway, take the Neumarkt–Auer–Tramin exit and follow the signs towards Tramin a.d.W./Kaltern a.d.W. Along the Wine Road, reach Kaltern a.d.W. and then follow the signs towards Lake Caldaro/Klughammer a.d.W.
- From the A22 motorway, take the Bolzano South exit and follow the signs towards Eppan/Kaltern a.d.W. Continue to Kaltern a.d.W. and then towards Lake Caldaro/Klughammer a.d.W. until reaching the village of Klughammer a.d.W.
Parking
Parking is available at the starting point of the tour in Klughammer a.d.W. at Lake Caldaro.
Public transport
Klughammer a.d.W. on Lake Caldaro is accessible via public transport. Take advantage of the bus services that lead directly to the starting point of the cycling tour.
Recommended equipment
Recommended equipment includes a well-maintained bike suitable for the route type (touring bike, trekking bike, city bike, mountain bike), as well as a helmet, water bottles, a repair kit, and weather-appropriate clothing.
Author's tip
A highlight of this tour is the Burgruine Leuchtenburg, which majestically overlooks Lake Caldaro and the Etsch Valley/South Tyrolean Unterland. It was built around 1200 by the Rottenburgers and is distinguished from others by its massive, tower-like keep and a small outer bailey. The castle can be reached from the Kreithsattel via a footpath (about a half-hour walk) or three-quarters of the way up the parallel forestry road by bike to the south side of the castle hill, from where it takes a quarter of an hour on foot to reach the castle. A visit to the beautiful village of Neumarkt with its picturesque arcades is also highly recommended.
