Main: Thrilling ride ahead, Bamberg – Aschaffenburg

Cycled briskly, experienced a lot, marvelled endlessly.

Let the Main seduce you on a particularly enjoyable cycling tour. Follow the Main cycle path at a brisk pace with daily stages of 42-65 km. Since the cycle path is mostly well paved and flat, you will have plenty of time for all the many beautiful sights. Be fascinated by the world heritage site of Bamberg, which impresses with its unique historic townscape, and marvel at the Residenz in Würzburg, which has been classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1982! You will cycle through the Franconian wine country, which attracts visitors with its many small wine villages worth seeing. Behind Würzburg, the landscape slowly changes and the characteristic vineyards give way to the shady forests of the Spessart. Cosy half-timbered towns and proud castles now enrich your cycle tour to Aschaffenburg, whose sandstone Johannisburg Castle forms a crowning finale to your cycle tour.

1. day Bamberg Arrival

Look forward to seeing Bamberg's Old Town, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. If you arrive early, you will still have time for a worthwhile sightseeing tour. First visit the imperial cathedral of St. Peter and St. George and the New Residence before stopping off at one of Bamberg's many breweries to enjoy the end of the first day.

2. day Bamberg – Schweinfurt 61 km

Passing the pilgrimage church of Maria Limbach, which is well worth seeing, you cycle along the asphalted Main cycle path almost by yourself without much effort to Haßfurt, which invites you to take a leisurely break. Now the first vineyards begin, as you have passed the border between beer and wine Franconia. Along the banks of the Main, you roll quickly to Schweinfurt in the heart of Main-Franconia. Stroll through the town and discover evidence of one of the oldest towns in Bavaria. In Schweinfurt you will walk in the footsteps of the old imperial city on the one hand and of industrial pioneers on the other.

3. day Schweinfurt – Kitzingen 58 km

Passing countless vineyards, you cycle via Fahr, the town of the Bocksbeutels, to Volkach - famous for its excellent wines! The wine town of Volkach lies idyllically in a wide loop of the Main. Take a break in the small old town and try out the gastronomy and wine world. Then cycle along the Main Canal to Schwarzach, whose Benedictine Abbey of Münsterschwarzach is visible from afar. You will soon reach the pretty town of Dettelbach. Dettelbach is one of those romantic places that make Main-Franconia so charming. Marvel at the late Gothic town hall from around 1500, at the town wall that has been preserved all around, at the two ancient town gates, at the winding half-timbered houses and Baroque buildings. Only a 10-minute walk from the old town is the pilgrimage church "Maria im Sand", a late Gothic and Renaissance building known throughout Europe. After a possible visit, cycle along the well-surfaced Main cycle path to Kitzingen with its historic market square and one of the oldest wine cellars in Germany.

4. day Kitzingen – Karlstadt 65 km

A picture-perfect day: one wine town more beautiful than the next! Via Ochsenfurt, Sommerhausen and Eibelstadt you cycle to the residential town of Würzburg. Take a stroll through the town and marvel at the market square, the town hall and the old Main bridge. You may also have time to visit the old Residenz (UNESCO World Heritage Site), a major work of southern German Baroque architecture and one of the most important palaces in Europe. It was built between 1720 and 1744 according to plans by Balthasar Neumann. Shortly after Würzburg, the next cultural highlight awaits: Veitshöchheim with its prince-bishop summer residence and French rococo garden. The court garden is still considered one of the most beautiful of its kind in Germany. Then cycle along the flat Main cycle path to Karlstadt with its attractive town centre.

5. day Karlstadt – Marktheidenfeld 50 km

The three-river town of Gemünden at the confluence of the Main, Saale and Sinn rivers is your first small stopover today. Stroll through the alleys of the old fishing town up to the Scherenburg ruins. From up here you can enjoy a fantastic view of the Main valley, the Spessart and the Rhön. On the next few kilometres of cycling, the forested hills to the right and left of the Main come very close together. You cycle easily and comfortably through the narrow valley to Lohr, the gateway to the Spessart. Stroll through the small half-timbered old town and visit the Spessart Museum in the castle before getting back on your bike. Cycle past Rothenfels, whose castle guards the narrow valley, to your overnight stop in Marktheidenfeld. The charming old town with its historic half-timbered houses, romantic alleyways and pretty market square with fishing fountain is a tempting place for an evening stroll.

6. day Marktheidenfeld – Miltenberg 58 km

Today the Main cycle path runs close to the river bank. You cycle past Homburg Castle to Wertheim, idyllically situated where the Tauber flows into the Main. Karl Baedeker once praised Wertheim as the "most beautiful point on the entire journey" in his 1862 description of the Main. Overlooked by a mighty castle ruin, richly decorated half-timbered houses still characterise the medieval townscape today. Stroll through the town and let yourself be enchanted a little before you start pedalling again. You will quickly reach Miltenberg, which proudly presents itself with its half-timbered houses! The old town nestles tightly between the Main and Greinberg mountains and provides the perfect backdrop for spooky stories and legends. Enjoy the magnificent market square, also known as the "Schnatterloch", during a stroll through the town. Visit the Gasthaus zum Riesen in the old town. It was built in its present form in 1590 and is one of the oldest inns in Germany. For centuries it was the drinking place of the nobility, kings and electors. Clergymen and secular lords were accommodated here, so that the hotel still rightly bears the name Fürstenherberge.

7. day Miltenberg - Aschaffenburg 42 km

Between the elevations of the Spessart and the Odenwald you cycle on the flat Main cycle path to Klingenberg, which lies idyllically in the protection of the castle ruins of Clingenburg and its flank walls reaching down into the valley. Take a break in the small red wine town on the Bavarian Lower Main. Stroll through the romantic alleyways and marvel at the 8000 square metre rose park. In terraced steep vineyards, the grapes grow in Klingenberg directly on the banks of the Main. The Klingenberg winegrowers produce excellent red wines every year, which even enjoy a world-wide reputation. After your break, you then master the last kilometres to the sandstone Johannisburg Castle in Aschaffenburg. The archbishops and electors of Mainz made Aschaffenburg their second residence and left behind this magnificent three-wing building of the late Renaissance. Not far from the castle on the high bank of the Main, you should also visit the Pompejanum. The Mediterranean-looking, eye-catching building is a replica of a Roman dwelling as it stood in the ancient Vesuvian cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum. Instead of a visit to the city, you can visit the collegiate church and the theatre square with its sundial and lion apothecary, before finishing your last evening in a relaxed atmosphere.

8. day Aschaffenburg Departure

Today your beautiful cycle tour ends in Aschaffenburg after breakfast. DB return journey possible. If you would like to return to your starting hotel in Bamberg, we recommend our practical return transfer service (departure every Wed, Sat and Sun at 09am, duration approx. 3 hours).

Worth knowing things about the bike trip Main: thrilling ride ahead

Below you will find specific information on the cycle tour "Main: thrilling ride ahead, Bamberg - Aschaffenburg". If you have any further questions about this tour, please do not hesitate to call us: Tel.: +49-6421-886890.

Arrival by train

Bamberg is easy to reach by train from all major cities in Germany. The best way to reach our partner hotels from the station is to take a short taxi ride. Bamberg Hallstadt has its own railway station. Current timetable information and prices can be found at www.bahn.de.

Parking facilities at the place of arrival

There is usually no parking available at our contract hotels in Bamberg city centre. Here you can park in public car parks from € 8.00 per day.
Detailed information on parking facilities at the hotel booked for you will be sent to you with the detailed travel documents two weeks before the start of your journey.

Condition of the bike paths

In 2008, the ADFC awarded the Main Cycle Route five stars, the first cycle route to do so in Germany. Important criteria for this award were the almost continuous asphalting and the almost car-free routing. The cycle path, which is signposted throughout, runs mostly along the banks of the Main and has no gradients worth mentioning.

Available rental bikes

If you would like a Velociped rental bike for the tour, we will bring it to your starting hotel and of course collect it again at your destination. You can choose between ladies' and men's bikes with either 7-speed hub gears and coaster brake or 27-speed derailleur gears and freewheel. All ladies' bikes have a low step-through and men's bikes are available in various frame sizes. Our ladies' bikes are suitable for all cyclists over 150 cm tall and the men's bikes over 165 cm. Furthermore, 8-speed unisex e-bikes are available. Simply state your bike preference when booking.

Die Velociped Leihräder

Return transfer to the starting point of the tour

Every Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday there is the possibility to return to Bamberg by transfer with a minibus (with bicycle transport trailer) at 09:00 hrs (arrival there approx.12:00 hrs). The driver comes to your hotel and has room for you, your luggage and, if necessary, your private bike. He will drive you back to your starting hotel, thus ensuring a perfect return service without annoying transfers or lugging of luggage. If you bring your own bicycles, an additional fee will be charged. You can also book the transfer at the beginning (Wed, Sat, Sun) of the trip.

Extra costs that are not included in the tour price

A possible tourism tax is not part of the tour price and therefore has to be paid at the hotel on site.

7-day hotline service

If the bicycle chain is broken, flooding makes it impossible to continue your journey or other nasty surprises await you: We are available for you 7 days a week and organise help as quickly as possible.

Passport and visa requirements, health regulations

For EU citizens, there are no special passport or visa requirements and no health formalities to be considered for this trip.

Corona travel information:
Before booking your trip, please inform yourself about the measures in place to contain the Corona pandemic.

Information on current decisions of the German Federal Government can be found here:
https://www.bundesregierung.de/corona-these-rules-and-restrictions-apply

Current information on entry requirements to Germany can be found here:
https://www.auswaertiges-amt.de/en/coronavirus

You can also find more information on our website at:
Corona virus and holiday planning

Travel insurance

The tour price already includes the statutory insolvency insurance. In addition, we recommend that you take out travel cancellation insurance upon receipt of your travel confirmation in order to protect yourself against financial disadvantages in the event of travel cancellation, interruption of travel, illness or accident.

Bamberg

Visitors to Bamberg, a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site, are particularly fascinated by the many facets of this city. In the mountain town, Bamberg presents itself as the Franconian Rome, the island town with Little Venice is its lively centre and the Gardener's Town is unique. Bamberg, that's beer from eleven breweries in the city area, enjoyed in rustic brewery pubs, that's shopping in modern shops and historical ambience. And everything is close together in the old town: discover the imperial cathedral just a few minutes from your hotel or holiday flat!

Bamberg Sehenswürdigkeiten

Schweinfurt

In the middle of the Franconian wine country, framed by the Rhön, Steigerwald and Hassberge mountains, lies the formerly free imperial city of Schweinfurt. A walk through the town centre reveals lovingly restored corners of the old town, the town hall (built in 1570 - 72 by Nikolaus Hofmann), market square with the birthplace of the poet Friedrich Rückert, St. Johannis Church, Schweinfurt's museums and galleries or the scrap metal tower are just a few of the sights. 

Schweinfurt

Schweinfurt

Kitzingen

The centre  ft he historic old town  ft he market square, which is framed by Franconian half-timbered houses, imposing town houses and the Renaissance town hall. Architectural highlights are the Petrini Town Church with ist mighty portal  ft he Franconian Baroque, the late Gothic Church of St. John with ist impressive exterior sculptures and the famous Chapel  ft he Cross by Balthasar Neumann.

Kitzingen

Karlstadt

In the old town (founded around 1200), surrounded by walls, towers and gates, the visitor discovers buildings and structures that have survived for more than eight centuries. In particular, the Romanesque-Gothic "small town cathedral" of St. Andreas, the stair-gabled historic town hall dating from 1422 and the ornate half-timbered façades of the proud town houses impressively present the architecture of bygone days. And the names of the alleyways are a reminder of the craftsmen's skills that once resided in Karlstadt: Tanners, dyers, shoemakers, fishermen and carters. Today they show an exemplary renovation of the old town: the old has been preserved and brought into harmony with modern times.

Karlstadt

Marktheidenfeld

Historic half-timbered houses, picturesque alleyways and modern architecture combine with charming small and large shops, cafés and inns. Particularly worth seeing are St. Laurentius Church and the baroque Franck House with ist bright blue colour.

Marktheidenfeld

Miltenberg

Between vineyards, forest and water in the romantic Main valley lies the gateway to Spessart and Odenwald: the medieval half-timbered town of Miltenberg. Nestled between Greinberg and Main, you can experience the unique atmosphere of the oldest part of the town in the historic Schwarzviertel. The wealth and former importance of Miltenberg can still be seen today in the magnificent half-timbered buildings, which are unparalleled in Germany. The historic market square with its "Schnatterloch" is world-famous and was the setting for "Das Wirtshaus im Spessart". No less imposing is Germany's oldest princely inn, the "Gasthaus Zum Riesen", where you can still dine in a historical ambience. The Mildenburg, which is the backdrop for an incomparable open-air theatre every summer, towers above everything. Since July 2011, the beautifully renovated castle has housed the museum.

Miltenberg

Aschaffenburg

Aschaffenburg is worth a visit at any time of year - in spring for the famous magnolia blossom, in summer to the unique Pompejanum, in autumn to Bavaria's oldest English landscape park, in winter to Cranach, Grünewald, Kirchner & Schad: visitors can discover Aschaffenburg's different sides on foot along short routes.

Aschaffenburg Sehenswürdigkeiten

Pompejanum Aschaffenburg

The world's only replica of a Roman villa in Pompeii was built at the behest of King Ludwig I, inspired by the excavations in Pompeii. The architect Friedrich von Gärtner spared no detail in the design of the atrium and the interiors, with their magnificent paintings and mosaic floors, to provide art lovers with an ideal replica for studying ancient culture. Heavily destroyed during the Second World War, it has been open again since 1994 after several phases of restoration and is enriched by original Roman works of art from the holdings of the State Collections of Classical Antiquities and the Glyptothek.

Pompejanum Aschaffenburg

Johannisburg Castle Aschaffenburg

Johannisburg Castle, the second residence of the Elector Bishops of Mainz until 1803, is located in the centre of Aschaffenburg on the banks of the Main. The enormous four-winged complex, built between 1605 and 1614 under Elector Bishop Johann Schweikard von Kronberg, is one of the most important palace buildings of the German Renaissance. After the severe destruction during the Second World War, the exterior of the palace first had to be restored before the first showrooms and collections with the rescued furnishings could be reopened in 1964. Visitors can see a painting gallery with works by Lucas Cranach the Elder (branch museum of the Bavarian State Painting Collections), the castle chapel with a Renaissance altar, pulpit and portal sculptures by Hans Juncker, the parament chamber with regalia from the former Mainz cathedral treasury and much more.

Schloss Johannisburg Aschaffeburg