Main Cycleway
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The Main Cycleway (german: Main-Radweg) is a major German bicycle path running for about 600 km along the
River Main The Main () is the longest tributary of the Rhine. It rises as the White Main in the Fichtel Mountains of northeastern Bavaria and flows west through central Germany for to meet the Rhine below Rüsselsheim, Hesse. The cities of Mainz and Wies ...
in Germany. It starts from either
Creußen Creußen is a town in the district of Bayreuth in Bavaria, Germany. It is situated on the Red Main river, 13 km southeast of Bayreuth. Creußen is famous for its stoneware beer steins. Creußen is the starting point of the Red Main bran ...
or
Bischofsgrün Bischofsgrün is a municipality in the district of Bayreuth in Bavaria in Germany. Bischofsgrün is situated within the Fichtelgebirge mountain range between the range's two largest mountains; Schneeberg (1051 m) and the Ochsenkopf (1024 m). T ...
and ends in
Mainz Mainz () is the capital and largest city of Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany. Mainz is on the left bank of the Rhine, opposite to the place that the Main (river), Main joins the Rhine. Downstream of the confluence, the Rhine flows to the north-we ...
. The General German Bicycle Club (ADFC) rated the trail five stars in 2008, the first path in Germany to receive this award. Approximately 90% of the path is paved and 77% of the route is at least 2.5 metres wide.


Trail itinerary

From east to west (generally), the cycleway passes through the many notable places shown below (with UNESCO World Heritage Sites listed): *
Bischofsgrün Bischofsgrün is a municipality in the district of Bayreuth in Bavaria in Germany. Bischofsgrün is situated within the Fichtelgebirge mountain range between the range's two largest mountains; Schneeberg (1051 m) and the Ochsenkopf (1024 m). T ...
(starting point on the
White Main The White Main (german: Weißer Main or ''Weißmain'', not to be confused with the Weismain), is the larger and shorter of the two headstreams of the river Main. It rises in the Fichtelgebirge and merges near Steinenhausen, southwest of Kulmbach, ...
) *
Bad Berneck im Fichtelgebirge Bad Berneck () is a spa town in the district of Bayreuth, in Bavaria, Germany. It is situated on the White Main river, in the Fichtelgebirge mountains, 13 km northeast of Bayreuth. Its official title is ''Bad Berneck im Fichtelgebirge''. ...
(From the former station west of Bischofsgrün to here, the trail follows the river on a former railway path) * Himmelkron *
Trebgast Trebgast is a municipality in the district of Kulmbach in Bavaria in Germany Germany,, officially the Federal Republic of Germany, is a country in Central Europe. It is the second most populous country in Europe after Russia, and th ...
*
Creußen Creußen is a town in the district of Bayreuth in Bavaria, Germany. It is situated on the Red Main river, 13 km southeast of Bayreuth. Creußen is famous for its stoneware beer steins. Creußen is the starting point of the Red Main bran ...
(starting point on the Red Main) *
Weidenberg Weidenberg is a municipality in the district of Bayreuth in Bavaria in Germany. The Ölschnitz river discharges near Weidenberg-Neunkirchen into the Red Main. Nearby is the site of a medieval castle, known as Burgstall Schlosshügel The Burgst ...
*
Bayreuth Bayreuth (, ; bar, Bareid) is a town in northern Bavaria, Germany, on the Red Main river in a valley between the Franconian Jura and the Fichtelgebirge Mountains. The town's roots date back to 1194. In the 21st century, it is the capital of U ...
**
Margravial Opera House The Margravial Opera House (german: Markgräfliches Opernhaus) is a Baroque opera house in the town of Bayreuth, Germany. Built between 1745 and 1750, it is one of Europe's few surviving theatres of the period and has been extensively restored. On ...
*
Neuenmarkt Neuenmarkt is a municipality in the district of Kulmbach in Bavaria in Germany Germany,, officially the Federal Republic of Germany, is a country in Central Europe. It is the second most populous country in Europe after Russia, an ...
*
Kulmbach Kulmbach () is the capital of the district of Kulmbach in Bavaria in Germany. The town is famous for Plassenburg Castle, which houses the largest tin soldier museum in the world, and for its sausages, or ''Bratwürste''. Geography Location Ku ...
(White and Red Main unite) * Burgkunstadt/ Altenkunstadt * Michelau * Lichtenfels *
Bad Staffelstein Bad Staffelstein is a small town in the Bavarian Administrative Region of Upper Franconia in Germany. It has around 10,000 inhabitants. Bad Staffelstein is known for several landmarks, such as the Basilica of the Vierzehnheiligen designed by B ...
*
Bamberg Bamberg (, , ; East Franconian: ''Bambärch'') is a town in Upper Franconia, Germany, on the river Regnitz close to its confluence with the river Main. The town dates back to the 9th century, when its name was derived from the nearby ' castle. C ...
**Bamberg Altstadt *
Zeil am Main Zeil am Main is a town in the Haßberge district in Lower Franconia, an area in the federal state of Bavaria, Germany. It is situated on the right bank of the Main, 7 km east of Haßfurt, 24 km northwest of Bamberg, and 25 km ea ...
*
Haßfurt Haßfurt (; English: Hassfurt) is a town in Bavaria, Germany, capital of the Haßberge district. It is situated on the river Main, 20 km east of Schweinfurt and 30 km northwest of Bamberg. In 1852, Ludwig's Western Railway reached the ...
* Schweinfurt *
Volkach Volkach is a town in the district of Kitzingen in the ''Regierungsbezirk Unterfranken'' (Lower Franconia) in Bavaria, Germany. It lies on the river Main and has a population of around 8,700. History Located outside the town but inside the mu ...
*
Kitzingen Kitzingen () is a town in the Germany, German state of Bavaria, capital of the Kitzingen (district), district Kitzingen. It is part of the Franconia geographical region and has around 21,000 inhabitants. Surrounded by vineyards, Kitzingen County i ...
*
Ochsenfurt Ochsenfurt () is a town in the district of Würzburg, in Bavaria, Germany. Ochsenfurt is located on the left bank of the River Main and has around 11,000 inhabitants. This makes it the largest town in Würzburg district. Name Like Oxford, the t ...
*
Würzburg Würzburg (; Main-Franconian: ) is a city in the region of Franconia in the north of the German state of Bavaria. Würzburg is the administrative seat of the ''Regierungsbezirk'' Lower Franconia. It spans the banks of the Main River. Würzburg is ...
** Würzburg Residence * Karlstadt am Main * Gemünden am Main * Lohr am Main * Rothenfels * Marktheidenfeld * Urphar * Wertheim am Main * Miltenberg * Aschaffenburg * Seligenstadt *
Frankfurt am Main Frankfurt, officially Frankfurt am Main (; Hessian: , "Frank ford on the Main"), is the most populous city in the German state of Hesse. Its 791,000 inhabitants as of 2022 make it the fifth-most populous city in Germany. Located on its na ...
*
Mainz Mainz () is the capital and largest city of Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany. Mainz is on the left bank of the Rhine, opposite to the place that the Main (river), Main joins the Rhine. Downstream of the confluence, the Rhine flows to the north-we ...


Connections with other major cycling paths

* Rheinradweg between Mainz-Kostheim and Mainz-Kastel * Hessischer Radfernweg R3 between Rheinmündung and Hanau * Hessischer Radfernweg R4 in Maintal (Rumpenheim—Bischofsheim Ferry) * Hessischer Radfernweg R6 in Mainz Kostheim (Mainbrücke) * Hessischer Radfernweg R8 in Frankfurt-Höchst (Mainbrücke) * Deutscher Limes-Radweg between Großkrotzenburg and Miltenberg * Kahltal-Spessart-Radwanderweg * Main-Werra-Radweg *
Taubertalradweg The Tauber Valley Cycleway (german: Taubertalradweg), official name in German: ''Liebliches Taubertal (der Klassiker)'', in English ''Lovely Tauber Valley (the Classic)'', also ''Charming Tauber Valley (the Classic)'', is a German bicycle path run ...
* Wern-Radweg * Saale-Radweg


River and its culture

The River Main is the force behind it all: magnificent churches, imposing castles, poets and musicians, famous museums, and a unique lifestyle. Franconia and the Hessian Lower Main Region are influenced by the river and make this area a treasure trove for travellers looking to experience culture. Three of the cultural highlights along the Main are the cities of Würzburg, Bamberg and Bayreuth. They are listed as UNESCO World Heritage Sites. In Würzburg, the honour goes to the Residenz Castle, the former residence of the city’s prince-bishops. The castle was built and furnished between 1720 and 1780 and is regarded as one of the most important castles in all of Europe. The grand staircase with the single largest ceiling fresco in the world is the most unusual part of the castle. In Bamberg, the entire old town is a world heritage. Founded over 1.000 years ago, the city combines the magic of the Middle Ages and the Baroque era. Nowhere else in Germany can a better preserved and more congruent downtown be found. The Imperial Cathedral, the New Residence, the Town Hall, the Alte Hofhaltung Estate, and half-timbered architecture provide a journey through the centuries. In Bayreuth the world heritage “Margravial Opera House” is considered to be the most beautifully preserved baroque opera house in Europe. Margravine Wilhelmine commissioned one of the most famous families of theatre architects, the Bolognese, Giuseppe Galli Bibiena, and his son, Carlo, to design its interior. With a depth of 27 metres, the stage of this opera house was the largest one in Germany until 1871 - a superlative, which also drew Richard Wagner's attention to Bayreuth. The cathedral in Bamberg is one of the most outstanding places of worship along the Main. Other great cathedrals can be found in Mainz, Würzburg, and Frankfurt. Deeply devout Christians have made the journey to Franconia’s pilgrimage churches for centuries. An especially magnificent example is the Basilica Vierzehnheiligen near the town of Bad Staffelstein. The area the basilica is located in has been labelled by poets as "God’s Garden along the Upper Main River". Poets have been busy practising one of the "beautiful arts" along the Main for centuries. In 1749, the renowned German poet Johann Wolfgang von Goethe was born in Frankfurt am Main. The city honours its famous son with the Goethe House and the Goethe Museum. In 1785, Jacob Grimm and a year later his brother, Wilhelm Grimm, were born in the town of Hanau. They are known worldwide as the
Brothers Grimm The Brothers Grimm ( or ), Jacob (1785–1863) and Wilhelm (1786–1859), were a brother duo of German academics, philologists, cultural researchers, lexicographers, and authors who together collected and published folklore. They are among the ...
, famous for their fairy tales. The Main is also closely related to music, just as Bayreuth is related to Richard Wagner. Every year, music lovers flock to Bayreuth for the annual Richard Wagner Music Festival. But there is more to music along the Main: Different varieties of music can be enjoyed at the "Old Opera House" in Frankfurt am Main, in the Baroque-era "Margravial Opera House" in Bayreuth, in parks, castles, and courtyards all along the river. Franconia and the Hessian Lower Main Region are also rich in castles and fortresses. In times gone by, Germany consisted of many petty states, principalities and counties. Each individual ruler tried to impress by building magnificent structures. Many superb examples of their attempts to outdo one another are found along the river. There are the Isenburg Castle in Offenbach, the Johannisburg Castle in Aschaffenburg, the New Castle in Bayreuth, the Plassenburg Castle in Kulmbach, and the Marienberg Fortress in Würzburg. Many of the most imposing structures along the Main now house a wide variety of museums and exhibits. There are State Galleries in Aschaffenburg, Bamberg, Kulmbach, and Bayreuth featuring many works by famous artists. The Museum Georg Schäfer in Schweinfurt has a wonderful collection of 19th century German art. In Bayreuth a lot of modern art can be found. Gambling is also possible along the Main: the Wiesbaden Casino is located in the beautiful, historical resort facility. Of great European significance are the museums along the riverfront in Frankfurt: Here sculptures, architecture, movies, and art – all can be found in one place.


Publications

* ''bikeline-Radtourenbuch Main-Radweg'', 1:75.000, Verlag Esterbauer, Rodingersdorf, 2000, , in German. * ''BVA Kompaktspiralo Main-Radweg'', 1:75.000, Bielefelder Verlag, Bielefeld, 2011, , in German. * ''Radwanderkarte Main-Radweg 1 – Creußen/Ochsenkopf—Würzburg'', 1:50,000, Publicpress-Verlag, Geseke, 2006, , in German. * ''Radwanderkarte Main-Radweg 2 – Würzburg—Mainz'', 1:50.000, Publicpress-Verlag, Geseke, 2007, , in German.


References


External links

*
Map of Main Cycleway


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