UNESCO World Heritage Tour
On the UNESCO World Heritage Tour, you can combine all four World Heritage Sites and many other sights in our region on one cycle tour.
Within a radius of just 35 km, our region is home to four UNESCO World Heritage Sites: the Luther Memorials in Wittenberg, the Bauhaus with its masterpieces and arcade houses in Dessau, the Dessau-Wörlitz Garden Kingdom and the Middle Elbe Biosphere Reserve. All these places have one thing in common. They are unique in the world! The UNESCO World Heritage Sites in the region have joined forces to form the Luther | Bauhaus | Garden Kingdom network.
Experience all the World Heritage sites on a 50 km tour through the heart of the World Heritage region!







Tour
Within a radius of 1 km, the UNESCO Luther Memorials documenting the life and work of Martin Luther are located in Wittenberg's Old Town. Starting with the Luther House, you can continue on foot or by bike to the Melanchthon House, St. Mary's Church - Luther's preaching church, and finally to the Castle Church with its world-famous Thesis Door. Along the way, you will also pass the two Cranach houses and courtyards, which provide information about the life of Lucas Cranach, the mayor of Wittenberg at the time.
Cross the Elbe bridge to the south of the town and cycle along the Elbe meadows until the first buildings of the Wörlitz garden architecture can be seen along the way. The Elbe cycle path leads directly to Wörlitz Park - another UNESCO World Heritage Site. It was here that Prince Leopold III implemented his Enlightenment ideas in a park which, with its palaces, gardens and garden architecture, invites you to take a leisurely stroll. The various highlights of the park, such as Wörlitz Palace, the Gothic House and Stein Island, can be explored particularly well on a gondola ride on the waterways that run through it.
You can continue your journey to Oranienbaum by bike or on the unique Dessau-Wörlitz Railway (bikes can be taken on the Heide-Bahn free of charge)
Another ensemble of the Garden Kingdom can be found in Oranienbaum. The palace and park were built at the end of the 17th century in honor of the Dutch Princess Henriette Catharina of Orange-Nassau.
The last stop on the World Heritage tour is reached via a particularly idyllic section of the route through the Middle Elbe Biosphere Reserve. It is not for nothing that the natural river landscape has been designated a UNESCO natural heritage site.
On arrival in Dessau-Roßlau, the tour ends with a modern art and cultural highlight. It was only in 2019 that Dessau-Roßlau celebrated the 100th anniversary of the Bauhaus ensemble around the School of Design and Architecture and the Masters' Houses. However, it has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1996. In 2017, they were extended to include the arcade houses.
In Dessau-Roßlau, it is worth extending your stay for a few more days. For example, you can take a detour on the "Fürst Franz" Garden Realm Tour to see other parts of the Garden Realm, such as the Georgium or Luisium Palace. Or you can cycle along the Bauhaus tour through the city and see all the architectural highlights surrounding Walter Gropius and his Bauhaus school.
If you want to return to Wittenberg from Dessau-Roßlau, you can take the direct train back to Lutherstadt. If you still have stamina and a desire to cycle, take the Ellberadweg from Dessau via Vockerode, Wörlitz and Coswig (Anhalt) to Wittenberg.
From Lutherstadt Wittenberg, follow the signs for the Elbe Cycle Path to Wörlitz. From Wörlitz, the signposted Fürst Franz Garden Realm Tour leads to Oranienbaum. The R1 European Cycle Route leads from here through the Dessau-Wörlitz Garden Kingdom to Dessau-Roßlau.
Data & Facts
Lutherstadt Wittenberg
Dessau-Roßlau
April
Mai
Juni
Juli
August
September
Oktober
Further information
With the bike
- Elbe cycle path
- European cycle path R1
- Berlin-Leipzig cycle path
- Coal | Steam | Light | Lakes - cycle route
By car
If you start your tour in Lutherstadt Wittenberg, the next exit to the A9 is in Coswig (Anhalt).
You can get to Dessau-Roßlau via the Dessau-Ost exit on the A9.
With the train
- Lutherstadt Wittenberg
- Coswig (Anhalt)
- Dessau-Roßlau
Use the World Heritage Card on your bike tour!
With the Guest Card, you receive discounts, vouchers and additional services in the areas of art, culture, nature and leisure throughout the Anhalt-Dessau-Wittenberg World Heritage Region.
In Dessau-Roßlau, it is worth extending your stay by a few more days. For example, you can take a detour on the "Fürst Franz" Garden Realm Tour to see other parts of the Garden Realm, such as the Georgium or the rococo Mosigkau Palace. Or you can cycle along the Bauhaus tour through the city and see all the architectural highlights surrounding Walter Gropius and his Bauhaus school.