On a Banz Tour to Baroque and Beer

From the train station it is only a good kilometre to the bike rental.

Bicycle parking and toilets are available.

Follow Bahnhofstraße, turn right into Am Unteren Lauterdamm and then walk along the path by Lauterbach to the company Radsport Höppel, which offers bikes for sale and hire in Bad Staffelstein's old fire station. If you want to be on the safe side, reserve your desired bike for the Banz tour in advance.

The bike shop is located just a few steps away from the tourist information office in the old fire station. Whether you want to be sporty or take a leisurely bike tour, you will find the right rental bike here.

Now cycle back to the station, through the subway and on the cycle path alongside the road to Unnersdorf. You pass the bridge over the Main River and hospitable houses on its banks. At the end of the village, turn right to Neubanz and cycle up to the former Banz monastery.

Banz Monastery is a former Benedictine monastery. It was founded in 1070 and was an important religious and cultural centre in the region until its secularisation in 1803.

The monastery building is an important example of southern German baroque architecture. The monumental complex with its two church towers on the hill can be seen from afar. Today it houses the modern education and meeting centre of the Hanns Seidel Foundation as well as a museum. The monastery church is particularly worth seeing, with its magnificent stucco work and frescoes. The museum in the consular building in front of the church tells the story of the monastery and displays a fossil collection and an oriental collection. Changing special exhibitions present contemporary art.

Today, Banz Monastery is also a popular destination for tourists and pilgrims interested in history, art and culture.

From Neubanz you cycle through the beautiful Banz forest and along the Mühlgraben to Altenbanz. Here the church of St. Laurentius is more than worth a look.

The Roman Catholic parish church of St. Laurentius dates back to a stone church around the year 800. The nave consists of white plastered chunk masonry. The red-painted edges and the eaves cornice are striking. Inside, the high altar from 1700 by a Bamberg artist and the pulpit are worth seeing.

If you now turn left into Stadeler Weg, you will reach a so-called Flurbereinigungsweg on the right, which you follow into the village of Stadel. The people of Stadel are proud of their renovated village community centre in the former fire station in the centre of the village. Now cycle along the road Unter den Linden and another land consolidation path between the fields towards Nedensdorf. You cross the state road and stand in front of the so-called Gypsy lime tree. This solitary, ancient lime tree even featured in the famous cinema film "Luther - Der Film". In the scene, Luther was almost struck by lightning and thus became a humble monk. Right next to this natural monument there is a covered rest area for hikers and cyclists. Now the route continues across the Brunngraben into Nedensdorf. A mini detour on the right leads you to a viewing platform from which you have a great view of the Main and the Bad Staffelsteiner Seenplatte.

Are you starting to get hungry? No problem! You can stop off at the Nedensdorfer Brauerei-Gasthof Reblitz when the opening hours are just right.

This traditional establishment offers the best Franconian cuisine and brewing skills. Since 1805, the inn has held the right to brew and serve beer. In the meantime, the brewery and inn are being run by the seventh and eighth generations. The beers brewed here are served in the inn and sold in kegs, such as the dark country beer, "Reblitz Hell" or "Weizenbock". All beers are natural and unfiltered.

Franconian specialities are served in the pub - from snacks to roasts. The owners attach great importance to regional food: the game comes from their own forests, the freshwater fish from local ponds, cheese products from the local cooperative and meat from the butcher.

In summer, the sun terrace in the Kastanienhof and in winter the cosy, warm tiled stove in the rustic dining room offer the most beautiful places for culinary enjoyment.

Well refreshed, you continue on the Mainstraße along the river to the bridge. Here the circle closes and you cycle back to Bad Staffelstein and the bike hire shop along the familiar route.