Bavaria: Hiking and cycling through the world's largest hop-growing region

Bavaria is known for its brewing skills and vibrant beer tradition. It's no wonder, then, that the state is also home to the world's largest contiguous hop-growing region.

In the Hallertau region, also known as "Holledau," hops, which are used in regional and international beers, are cultivated on an area of 17,000 to 20,000 hectares. The landscape is characterized by rolling hills, fields, and forests, interspersed with idyllic villages.

The Hallertau region in Bavaria is known as the largest contiguous hop-growing area in the world.

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In late summer, the hop region is at its best: The female hop vines and their cones are in full bloom, exuding their aromatic fragrance. Hikers can explore the region among the plants, which can grow up to seven meters tall. Cyclists also get their money's worth. The travel reporter presents the best routes through the world's largest hop-growing region.

In late summer, hops, also known as "green gold," bloom in the fields. The area around Wolnzach is a worthwhile destination during this time. The hike along the Hop Trail leads through the rolling hills and past blooming hop gardens, offering repeated views of the Wolnzach Valley. The four-kilometer hike along the Hallertau Hop Trail is accompanied by the aroma of the flowering vine.

The landscape around Wolnzach is characterized by tall hop vines.

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The Hops Trail starts at the parking lot near Wolnzach-Edenthal and is family-friendly, even accessible with strollers. The trail's 26 educational panels cover topics such as hop cultivation and local flora and fauna.

A 30-minute drive from Wolznach, the 17-kilometer Abensberg Panorama Trail in the Kehlheim district immerses you in the world of hops. The panoramic trail leads around the town of Abensberg, and the entire route takes a good four hours. Ten stations along the circular trail, equipped with benches, provide interesting information about the town and landscape, as well as the flora and fauna.

After the hike around Abensberg, the town itself offers a variety of hoppy drinks in the Hundertwasser-style beer garden.

Source: IMAGO Images/NurPhoto

Child-friendly information is also included at each stop, making the route particularly family-friendly. After the hike, a visit to Abensberg itself is worthwhile. Among the sights of this well-preserved medieval town are the 35-meter-high Kuchlbauer Tower on the brewery grounds, designed by Friedensreich Hundertwasser, and the KunstHausAbensberg, also designed in the Hundertwasser style.

The Scheyern Planet Trail in the Pfaffenhofen district also leads through the hop-growing region, but, as the name suggests, focuses on the solar system. The six-and-a-half-kilometer circular trail provides information about the planets and illustrates their relative sizes.

The hike on the Planet Trail starts and ends at Scheyern Monastery.

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There are, of course, also connections to the topic of hops. The Planet Trail starts and ends at Scheyern Monastery, which has been producing beer since 1119, making it the third oldest brewery in Germany . Guided tours of the multi-story, historic monastery brewery are available upon reservation. The brewing process is explained, followed by a beer tasting.

What is the Bavarian Purity Law? What are the requirements for hops? What is the history behind beer brewing in monasteries? All of this is explored on the "Hops and Beer" adventure trail in Mainburg. Anyone interested in learning about beer brewing is on the right track, as the 15-kilometer-long trail features 17 display panels explaining the ingredients used in brewing beer and the brewing process. It begins at the information column on Mainburg's Griesplatz.

Hops ready for harvest in the hilly landscape near Mainburg.

Source: IMAGO Images/imagebroker

The route can also be explored by bike, and in addition to blooming hop fields, meadows and orchards characterize the landscape. The circular route ends at the Ziegler Bräu beer garden in Mainburg, where on hot days, a rest under shady chestnut trees beckons with a hoppy drink brewed especially for the beer garden.

The hop-growing region can also be explored in depth by bike, for example on the Hallertau Hop Tour. This approximately 170-kilometer circular route takes you through the hilly landscapes of the hop-growing region and the picturesque river valleys of the Ilm and Abens.

Hop cultivation in a hop garden in Bavaria in the Hallertau.

Source: IMAGO Images/imagebroker

Along the route, you can lose yourself in the hop vines, which are up to seven meters high, discover typical Hallertau farmhouses, and enjoy panoramic views of the region from vantage points. The route's five cross-connections allow you to shorten the Hop Tour to suit your individual needs.

Even if a hike or bike ride isn't possible, the Bavarian region can still be explored. By car, the German Hop Route is a great option, leading through the landscape of the world's largest hop-growing region.

The 85-kilometer holiday route winds through the Hallertau region, starting in Wolnzach and ending in Elsendorf or Attenhofen, depending on the route. The road passes hop fields and visits breweries, historic hop farms, and cultural sights.

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