June 13, 2009
Lengenfeld - Altenburg
Sun, blue skies and a cold wind. The day starts with a hilly ride and beautiful panoramic views, followed by a welcome, long descent to Zwickau.
| Heart | 0 | Comment | 0 | Link |
Entering Zwickau we make an unnecessary detour. Planning the route at home I tried to avoid the wide road leading directly into the heart of the city since according to my experience these main thoroughfares are busy and not good to cycle on. My route turned out to be complicated and some of the little sideroads in the Google maps didn't even exist any more or else turned out to be dead ends. Finally, we do find ourselves on the main road we were trying to avoid. The traffic is surprisingly light and there is plenty of room for cyclists.
Here everything seems to be in the process of being built or rebuilt: There are many constructions sites, many sparkling renovated historical buildings and smooth asphalt surfaces. The town is a mixture of new-new and new-old, the patina is lacking though. It still needs time for the pieces to become a whole. Zwickau was once a major center of GDR industry, it is the place where the then ubiquitous and now almost extinct Trabants were produced. Since the Reunification, VW has taken over the city. Zwickau is also the birthplace of Robert Schumann.
| Heart | 1 | Comment | 0 | Link |
| Heart | 0 | Comment | 0 | Link |
Tourism is being encouraged - the friendly tourist information office has an abundance of free pamphlets and brochures on the city's sights, hotels and entertainment. We are tempted to stay but after an hour of cycling around town we are satisfied and cycle on. We leave town following the Zwickauer Mulde, along its banks is a spanking new bike path.
Again through green hilly countryside with villages and farms on the way to the next larger town, Altenburg.
| Heart | 0 | Comment | 0 | Link |
Today's ride: 68 km (42 miles)
Total: 474 km (294 miles)
| Rate this entry's writing | Heart | 1 |
| Comment on this entry | Comment | 1 |
6 years ago