WHAT IS BACH BY BIKE?

Leipzig

Exclusive bike journey on the trail of Johann Sebastian Bach

Two young musicians have developed a unique cycling tour for culture and nature lovers.

Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750) lived all his life in what is today Thuringia, Saxony and Saxony-Anhalt. As a world-famous composer, it is extraordinary that his life and work took place almost entirely within this limited area.

Mareike Neumann and Anna-Luise Oppelt, two young Bach- and bike-enthusiasts, took the opportunity to develop a unique journey from Bach’s birthplace Eisenach to his place of death, Leipzig. Come with us and “experience” Bach by Bike! The tours, depending on the variant, include not only Eisenach and Leipzig, but also Mühlhausen, Gotha, Wechmar, the Bach family’s ancestral home town, and Ohrdruf, Arnstadt, Dornheim, Erfurt, Weimar, Naumburg, Weißenfels, Halle and Köthen.

During the tours, you will visit the regional Bach-Festivals such as Bachfest Leipzig, Bach Biennale Weimar, Köthen Bach Festival and MDR Music Summer.

On long-distance bike paths, you will discover the charming landscapes of the Thuringian Forest, Ilm Valley, the wine-producing area Saale/Unstrut and the Saxonian Burgenland. You will explore museums, memorials and many original, preserved places, such as Dornheim Church, Bach’s wedding church. In addition, you will meet people who, often on voluntary basis, protect Bach’s heritage. Guided tours of organs, exclusive visits, intimate concerts and – for those who enjoy singing – sight-reading of Bach chorales during breaks will round off the trip.

The tours include festivals or live concerts: In 2024 we cycle to Bachfest Leipzig and Köthener Bachfesttage. Here you will listen to top-class concerts.

Since 2021, the tours are conducted exclusively by Bach by Bike. We have developed a sustainable tour concept and pay our tour guides, musicians and local partners fair wages.

The well-stocked travel package includes a full-service luggage service, packed lunches and selected, bicycle-friendly hotels along the scenic route. Upon request, bicycles and E-bikes can be hired.

The project inspired other musicians: the patronage of Bach by Bike has the Starbratschist Nils Mönkemeyer taken. He played a concert in Eisenach at the opening of Bach by Bike on 30. 5. 2015.

Bach by Bike is open to special requests from groups and individuals.

Apart from the tours, Bach by Bike engages in developing an official cycling route with signposting and marketing through the three states involved.

EISENACH

Stadtführung
Bachhaus
Bachdenkmal
Georgenkirche
Lateinschule



 

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GOTHA

GOTHA

Schloss Friedenstein

 
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Mühlhausen

Mühlhausen

Stadtführung

Orgelmusik in Divi Blasii Kirche

Marienkirche

Stadtarchiv

Bachdenkmal

Mühlhausen City

 
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WECHMAR

WECHMAR

Führung im Bach-Stammhaus

Führung durch die Obermühle

wechmar

 
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OHRDRUF

Michaeliskirchturm mit Führung
ArchivSchloss Ehrenstein
Bachdenkmal

ohrdruf

 
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ARNSTADT

Stadtführung
BachhausBachkirche mit Orgelmusik und Einführung in die Geschichte der Kirche Bachdenkmal
Bach ChurchAusstellung im Schlossmuseum

arnstadt

 
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DORNHEIM

Traukirche mit Führung

dornheim

 
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ERFURT

Wohnhaus der Eltern J.S. Bach
Kaufmannskirche
Krämerbrücke

erfurt

 
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WEIMAR

Stadtführung
Bachdenkmal
Stadtkirche St. Peter und Paul
Stadtschloss

weimar

 
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NAUMBURG

Hildebrandt-Orgel in St. Wenzel mit Orgelführung- und Konzert

naumberg

 
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WEIßENFELS
Jägerhof
Schlosskapelle im Schloss Neu-Augustusburg
Heinrich-Schütz-Haus

weisenfels

 
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WIEDERAU

Barockschloss Wiederau

wiederau

 
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LEIPZIG

Ehemaliges Rittergut Kleinzschocher Stadtführung

Thomaskirche
Bachmuseum
Bachdenkmäler
Bachzimmer im Alten Rathaus
Alter Friedhof
Nikolaikirche

leipzig

 
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HALLE
 

Wilhelm-Friedemann-Bach-Haus

Händel-Haus
Liebfrauenkirche

halle

 
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KÖTHEN

Stadtführung

Schlossmuseum
Bachdenkmal
Kirche St. Agnes
Gedenkstein Maria Barbara Bach

kothen

 
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EISENACH

city tour

Bachhaus

Bach monument

St. George´s Church

Latin school

 



 

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GOTHA

Friedenstein Castle

 
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Mühlhausen

city tour

organ music in Church Divi Blasii

St. Mary´s Church

city hall-archive

Bach monument

Mühlhausen City

 
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WECHMAR

guided tour Bachstammhaus Wechmar

guided tour Bach-Mill

wechmar

 
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OHRDRUF

guided tour Michaelis Church Ohrdruf with archive

Ehrenstein castle

Bach monument

ohrdruf

 
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ARNSTADT

City tour

Bachhaus

Organ tour and concert Bach Church

Palace Museum

arnstadt

 
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DORNHEIM

Guided tour Bach Wedding Church

dornheim

 
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ERFURT

House of Bach´s parents

Merchants´ Church

Krämerbrücke

erfurt

 
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WEIMAR

City tour

Bach monument

Church St. Peter and Paul

City castle

weimar

 
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NAUMBURG

Organ tour and concert St. Wenzel Naumburg, Hildebrandt organ

naumberg

 
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WEIßENFELS

Jägerhof

Chapel of Neu-Augustusburg Castle

Heinrich Schütz House

weisenfels

 
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LEIPZIG

Former court Kleinzschocher

St. Thomas Church

Bach museum

Bach monuments

Bach-room Altes Rathaus

Old cemetary

St. Nicholas Church

leipzig

 
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WIEDERAU

Baroque Castle Wiederau

wiederau

 
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HALLE

Wilhelm-Friedemann-Bach House

Händel House

Market Church

halle

 
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KÖTHEN

City tour

Palace Museum

Bach monument

St. Agnes Church

Gedenkstein Maria Barbara Bach/ Maria Barbara Bach Memorial

kothen

 
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