Cycling south of Salzburg, Austria

If you follow the tranquil tree-lined Hellbrunner Allee south out of Salzburg, you will soon find yourself in inviting open countryside west of Elsbethen, framed by the German Alps. This verdant landscape is criss-crossed by well-maintained lanes and minor roads. You can ride a very picturesque and pretty much flat 30 to 40 km loop, taking in handsome Schloss Hellbrunn, several peaceful villages and the Almkanal water way, before arriving at Leopoldskroner Weiher. On the banks of the lake sits Schloss Leopoldskron, which served as the Villa Trapp in The Sound of Music. From here, it is a short, but scenic, ride around the castle and back into the heart of Salzburg.