When Munich resident Maximilian Semsch talks about a bike tour, he doesn't mean a Sunday outing, but rather a journey halfway around the world. His cycling trips have already taken him 13.500 km from Munich to Singapore and once 16.000 km around the world's largest island – Australia!
3.500 km from source to mouth
Maximilian Semsch followed the Danube through eight countries – from the first drop in the Black Forest to the delta on the Black Sea.
Picturesque river landscapes, exciting cities, diverse cultures, and Caribbean-like beaches. Maximilian Semsch followed Europe's second-longest river for almost 10 weeks, cycling through a total of eight countries on this tour. He was overwhelmed by the breathtaking nature and the hospitality he encountered along his journey.
The starting point was in the Black Forest, where the Breg spring, the source of the Danube according to geographical and hydrological criteria, lies near Furtwangen. For twelve days and 600 km, Semsch followed the course of the Danube in Germany. The well-developed Danube Cycle Path takes you to cities such as Ulm, Regensburg, Ingolstadt, and Passau, all of which offer a wealth of sights and are well worth a visit. The Danube is one of the oldest and most important European trade routes, connecting not only metropolises such as Linz, Vienna, Bratislava, Budapest, and Belgrade, but also completely different cultural areas.
"I have always wanted to follow the course of a river from the first drop to its mouth, because I find it exciting to see the path the water takes and how it connects different countries and cultures," says Semsch about the motivation for his journey.
In his entertaining series with six 6-minute episodes, he brilliantly reports on the highlights of his two-month cycling trip, shows the most beautiful spots along the way, and offers tips for those who want to follow him. Whether it's the Danube Gorge near Kehlheim, the Iron Gate in Serbia, or the unique Danube Delta, home to thousands of animal and plant species, Semsch had something new to discover every day.
After the stage through Germany, the classic among cycle routes followed: the Passau – Vienna section. And it's not without reason that it's so popular, as it combines everything that makes a successful cycle tour: impressive landscapes, easy-to-ride cycle paths, numerous bike-friendly rest and overnight accommodation options, and, last but not least, many cultural highlights.
From Budapest onwards, the number of cyclists dwindled as the route continued through Croatia to Belgrade in Serbia. The final third of the journey took Semsch through Bulgaria and Romania before he reached the Danube's mouth at the Black Sea after 2870 km. Semsch was particularly enthusiastic about this section: "The hospitality and helpfulness in Eastern Europe were boundless. And I was also very impressed by the scenery. It was an incredible and exciting journey for me. I now want to share the fascination of the Danube with visitors in my new presentation. I hope to motivate some of them to get on their bikes and set off themselves, because the Danube is definitely worth a trip."
You can find more information about Maximilian Semsch on his Homepage
The six-part series is available via Amazon Prime Video, among other platforms.
