Bavaria Main River Bike Tour

If you are looking for a town that has authentic beauty and is alive with history, then Bamberg in Germany is a must-see. Located in the heart of North Bavaria, Upper Franconia, this town extends across seven hills, each with its own church or castle. Bamberg is one of Germany’s most significant medieval towns and is remarkably well-preserved. It is little wonder that Bamberg has been a UNESCO world heritage site since 1993. This Bavarian city at the river Main possesses one of Europe's largest ensembles of historic buildings! Enjoy typical franconian food and beer in one of the many restaurants or beer gardens. Spend the night in Bamberg.

Today you will start cycling on the beautiful, perfectly constructed Main-cycle path. Of course, it is impossible to check out every picturesque site along the way today, but you shouldn’t miss the pilgrim church of the “star architect” of the baroque style Balthasar Neumann. You will find it in Maria Limbach along the route. Enjoy the night in Hassfurt.

The biking path along the river is flat and easy to ride. Several castles and estates are still privately owned, managed, and inhabited along your route. Enjoy a city walk in the evening in the beautiful village of Volkach. You can visit the Baroque palace “Schelfenhaus” or other gems. After the tour, you can enjoy one of the excellent local wines! Spend the night in Volkach.

Like pearls on a chain, famous wine villages are lined up along your way today. You must select carefully among one of the most beautiful places, such as Sommerach, Dettelbach, Marktbreit, or Ochsenfurt, for a visit and/or a lunch/coffee break. Anyone who comes to Würzburg and does not know the city should plan at least half a day for the first tour of the sights of the old town. The Residence Palace is one of Europe’s most renowned Baroque castles and was registered as a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site in 1981. From the old bridge “Alte Mainbrücke,” you can enjoy fantastic views of the Fortress Marienberg, the pilgrimage church “Käppele,” and the famous vineyards. There is a lot to visit for the interested guest! Enjoy the night in Würzburg.

Take a break to stroll through the famous Veitshöchheim rococo garden (UNESCO World Cultural Heritage). Afterwards, there are several places to stop for a break, but a short rest in the old town of Karlstadt is a must. Lohr am Main is a charming little town in the Main-Spessart administrative district with a fairytale old town centre and a wealth of noteworthy sights.

Castle Rothenfels greets you from the opposite river-bank. At its feet lies the village of Rothenfels, with around 700 inhabitants the smallest municipality with a town charter in Bavaria. Following the cycle path, you will be guided through the old town of Marktheidenfeld. Images of an old shipyard come to life. Homburg and Urphar hold architectural gems, then the city of Wertheim welcomes you with its imposing castle. What was once a medieval residence city remains today an entirely romantic location that invites you to take a trip through time and to enjoy lazy strolls.

At Wertheim, you cross the Main to Kreuzwertheim and are back on Bavarian soil. The Main Cycle Path runs via Faulbach to Stadtprozelten with the Henneberg ruins. The town of Stadtprozelten has little space between the Main and the steep foothills of the Spessart and is therefore elongated. There are also beautiful Franconian half-timbered houses and the remains of a medieval city wall. The historic Miltenberg is picturesquely embedded on the left knee of the Main quadrangle between the hills of Spessart and Odenwald. Visitors flock to the medieval half-timbered houses, the well-known Schnatterloch and the Mildenburg, which towers over the city.

The wine from the region around Klingenberg was alone worth a trip to this part of the Main valley for the most famous German poet Goethe. This region called “Untermain” (“lower Main”) has kept its special charm and character. The best winemakers are here, specialising in red wines – which is rare in Germany. As a city of culture, Aschaffenburg has palaces, parks and museums. You may discover and experience the ever-changing history of the city within short walking distances. In the evening, you can stroll through the old city centre to see the churches and, of course, the castle situated at the riverbank. Spend one night in Aschaffenburg!

Today’s tour leads you to Frankfurt. In the morning you bike along the Main River to the small and romantic city Seligenstadt with its meandering alleys, half-timber houses and the basilica. In Seligenstadt you are crossing the Main River on a small ferry. You will pass Hanau, the town where the famous Grimm brothers were born. Via Klein-Krotzenburg and Steinheim, with its charming historic center you will soon reach Frankfurt. Germany’s big financial centre is a city of many sides. The central business district, Bankenviertel, captures your attention right away and has all ten of the tallest skyscrapers in the country. Opposite that sci-fi cityscape is the Museumsufer, an entire neighbourhood of museums that could keep you fascinated and entertained for days. Frankfurt also has a city centre bursting with sights like the church that held Germany’s first democratic parliament, and the childhood home of Johann Wolfgang von Goethe. Under the gaze of those skyscrapers are fun-loving neighbourhoods like Sachsenhausen, where taverns serve traditional Apfelwein and there’s always something going on at night.

Decide if you’d like to leave from here or spend more days exploring Frankfurt.