Cycling Without Borders – Franco-German Cycling Festival

Cross-border Event

The Dahner Felsenland and the adjacent Alsace in the Bas-Rhin department share a rich common history and a vibrant cross-border coexistence. The Franco-German Cycling Festival "Cycling Without Borders" is one of the most visible symbols of this collaboration. Promoted bilingually, jointly organized, and celebrated on both sides of the border, it has established itself as a popular spring event since its inception.

Car-Free Country Roads

The special appeal of the festival lies in closing smaller country roads to car traffic. Families with children, seniors on e-bikes, sporty road cyclists, and leisurely cruisers can thus safely share the roads that are normally used by cars. The circuit routes are each about 50 kilometers long and can be cycled individually or in combination – depending on individual fitness and preference.

Ten Festival Sites as Stopovers

Ten festival sites are set up at strategic points along the routes – in Nothweiler, Bundenthal, Bobenthal, Rumbach, and Schönau on the German side, and in several locations on the French side. Local clubs serve Palatinate and Alsatian specialties – Saumagen and Flammkuchen alternate with Tarte flambée and Choucroute – cool drinks and live music create a cheerful atmosphere. Hands-on activities for children, play stations, and information booths complement the program.

Start from 10 AM

The festival begins at 10 AM and runs all day until the early evening. There is no fixed start time and no mass start – participants simply join at the festival site closest to them and cycle at their preferred pace and distance. The routes are marked on both sides, and both languages are used on the signposts.

Palatinate and Alsace in Dialogue

With the cycling festival, the two administrative bodies emphasize the connection between two regions that are closely intertwined through nature, history, and culture. The Wasgau Massif (German) and the Vosges du Nord (French) together form a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve – the cycling festival makes this shared identity tangible.