A loop to the Main - on the road in Lower Franconia

If you need technical assistance, you can head for these repair stations along the route:

Fahrradprofis Würzburg, Raiffeisenstraße 3, 97080 Würzburg, Tel. 0931 12338
Fahrrad-Klinik-Meyer, Handgasse 7, 97070 Würzburg, Tel. 0931 53307
Zweirad Weissenseel GmbH, Im Seelein 14, 97332 Volkach, Tel. 09381 3988

550 bicycle parking spaces are located in the immediate vicinity of the station.

Before you cycle north-east out of the city, you first cycle through the old town to the Main. South of the Old Main Bridge, at the end of Büttnerstraße, you can first rent your bike.

In addition to sales and the workshop, bicycles can also be rented here for an excursion or longer trip.

You cycle back to the station and continue north-east out of the city. The tour leads between meadows and fields and along small streams. It goes under the A7 motorway to Seligenstadt near Würzburg. You already pass a stop of the Mainschleifenbahn, but continue cycling towards the Main to a special view.

There are places that magically burn themselves into the visitor's memory forever. In the wine country of Franconia, these places have a name: "terroir f". This term encompasses the natural surroundings that play a part in the creation of a wine. At the terroir f site high above Volkach, the vines of the great Escherndorfer Lump vineyard thrive, a vineyard site that is climatically known as one of the hottest sites in Franconia.

A movable photovoltaic element shows how much the sun shines here, and information pillars and a digital media presentation provide information on the topic of "climate and climate change". But the view of the vineyards and the Mainschleife from the vantage point alone is worth the visit.

You now continue through the extensive wine-growing region. Long rows of vines escort the course of the Main River, dotted with vantage points, churches and wineries. Only a few sectional ramparts have survived from Vogelsburg Castle, an early medieval fortress. The centre of today's complex is the Church of the Protection of the Virgin Mary.

The next destination is the Volkach-Astheim railway station of the Mainschleifenbahn on the banks of the Main in Volkach. You now have the opportunity to enjoy the route you have just completed by bike once again by train. Bicycles can be taken on the train to a limited extent, so park your bike and get on the train. The journey to the terminus at Seligenstadt takes 25 minutes. You will need one hour and 10 minutes for the intercalated excursion on tracks.

It is one of the last remaining branch lines from the time of the Royal Bavarian State Railway that still exists in Lower Franconia. In February 1909, the "Volkacher Bähnle" was opened between Seligenstadt and Volkach. After it was closed down in 1994, an association campaigned for the revival of the 10-kilometre line, preserving this unique technical monument. The views during the journey are magnificent, passing meadow orchards, cool riparian forests and green vineyards, there are unique views of the famous pilgrimage church Maria im Weingarten as well as the wine villages Fahr, Eisenheim, Escherndorf and Nordheim.

A special feature of the route is the 23 per mille gradient between Volkach-Astheim and Escherndorf: the route climbs 70 metres in just under 4 kilometres. The maximum permitted speed is 50 km/h, and the one-way journey time is a good 20 minutes for scheduled journeys.

Timetable at https://www.mainschleifenbahn.de/saisonfahrplan/

Once across the Main on the other side of the river, slightly north of the bridge, is the next stop, the passenger boat landing stage. Now conquer the Main from the water with a boat tour on the MS Undine.

A short river cruise takes the guests of the MS Undine to the Volkacher Mainschleife. During the trip, the captain will tell you interesting facts about the river, navigation and the landscape. There is a short stop at the pier in Stammheim, the ship turns around before the lock in Wipfeld and after about 90 minutes it reaches the pier in Volkach again. There is on-board service with cappuccino and cake, Franconian bratwurst, hot and cold dishes as well as dishes for children. There is a choice of eight different open Franconian wines to match the view.

ATTENTION: There is only limited capacity for bicycles! Therefore, it is better to plan a round trip without bicycles.

Timetable and prices at https://mainschifffahrt.info/fahrplan-preise/

Along the right bank of the Main Canal near Volkach, you head south to Schwarzach am Main. There you cross the Main and head west back towards Würzburg.