Main River Bike Tour: Würzburg to Frankfurt

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!

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 riverbank. 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. Next, Homburg and Urphar hold architectural gems, and the city of Wertheim welcomes you with its imposing castle. What was once a medieval residence city remains an entirely romantic location that invites you to take a trip through time and 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 Henneburg 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 are attracted by the medieval half-timbered houses, the well-known Schnatterloch and the Mildenburg, which towers over the city.

The Lower Main has its own character and has retained the winemakers with the best red wines. 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 will have an opportunity to stroll through the old city centre to see the churches and, of course, the castle at the riverbank.

Today's tour leads you to Frankfurt. In the morning, bike along the Main River to the small and romantic city of Seligenstadt, where you'll discover meandering alleys, half-timber houses and the basilica. In Seligenstadt, you cross the Main River on a small ferry. You will pass Hanau, where the famous Grimm brothers were born. Then, via Klein-Krotzenburg and Steinheim, with its charming historic centre, you will soon reach Frankfurt. Germany's big financial centre is a city of many sides. The central business district, Bankenviertel, captures your attention immediately 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.

You can decide if you’d like to stay in Frankfurt longer or depart!