Aussichtsturm Markt Bibart, Foto: Florian Trykowski Aussichtsturm Markt Bibart, Foto: Florian Trykowski Markt Bibart ehemaliger Steinbruch, Foto: Stefanie Binder Wolfsee (bei Markt Bibart), Foto: Stefanie Binder Gasthaus Rotes Ross , Foto: Stefanie Binder Wolfsee (Markt Bibart), Foto: Stefanie Binder Aussichtsturm bei Markt Bibart, Foto: Florian Trykowski ehemalige Steinbruch bei Markt Bibart, Foto: Stefanie Binder Finstersee bei Markt Bibart, Foto: Stefanie Binder
Tour

Circular walk in Markt Bibart

family friendly
All ages
For groups
Hiking Trails

Take the railway into nature to Wolfsee lake, viewing tower and gypsum quarry. During your hike in the Steigerwald Nature Park, you will come across wildflowers that have become rare in the typical rough pastures.

Start
Markt Bibart
Duration
3 h
Distance
9 km
Key facts of the tour
Markt Bibart is located in the beautiful Steigerwald Nature Park. Here you are surrounded by lush mixed deciduous forests with strong beech trees - mainly oak hornbeams. Rare wild flowers such as the wild tulip, wild orchids, cowbells and pasqueflowers thrive on the slopes with their typical rough pastures. Even the adonis can be found here. The region is characterised by wine-growing and also by the former gypsum quarries, which are now unique biotopes. These include the Knauf biotope and the Finstersee lake.

On the hike through the Steigerwald forest, you can enjoy a panoramic view of the impressive landscape from a 20 metre high viewing tower.
A hiking tour for nature lovers

Start and end station

Start station
Markt Bibart Bahnhof
4 tour steps
9 km / 3 Stunden
End station
Markt Bibart Bahnhof

Our tip: Please make sure to check your train connection and the expected capacity before you start your journey.

Schedule

Tour starts on Markt Bibart Bahnhof

Direction

Starting from the south side of the railway station, follow the path to Wolfsee lake, picturesquely situated on the edge of the forest just 400 metres south of Markt Bibart.

Wolfsee near Markt Bibart

Wolfsee Markt Bibart is surrounded by a wooded area and is accessible all year round. Native fish species such as perch, pike, carp, roach, rudd and tench can be found here. From early summer, Franconian Gelbvieh cattle graze around the lake, which are known for their flavoursome meat.

Phone: 09162 8247
Email Address: info@markt-bibart.de
Wolfsee (Markt Bibart), Foto: Stefanie Binder
Wolfsee (Markt Bibart), Foto: Stefanie Binder

Direction

In the forest, follow a short ascent past the quarry to Hohe Straße. The municipality's wooden observation tower is located there.

Hüßberg observation tower

The 20 metre high viewing tower in Markt Bibart offers an impressive panoramic view of the southern Steigerwald. On the upper platform, information boards draw attention to villages and vineyards, allowing visitors to find their way far into the countryside. The observation tower was selected as a nature site by the Steigerwald Nature Park, the Southern Steigerwald Local Action Group (LAG) and the Middle Franconia Landscape Conservation Association. It is located directly on the Hohe Straße, an ancient military road that was used as a trade route from Frankfurt/Main to Regensburg in Celtic times.

Phone: 09162 8247
Email Address: info@markt-bibart.de
Aussichtsturm bei Markt Bibart, Foto: Florian Trykowski
Aussichtsturm bei Markt Bibart, Foto: Florian Trykowski
Aussichtsturm bei Markt Bibart, Foto: Florian Trykowski
Aussichtsturm bei Markt Bibart, Foto: Florian Trykowski

Direction

Your path now leads you into a marvellous forest area up to Hüßberg, where you can see the Steigerwald heights, Schwanberg, Markt Bibart and its districts through gaps in the forest above a sea of green forest.

Former gypsum quarry

Abandoned gypsum quarries are a special element of the cultural landscape. The extraction of near-surface mineral raw materials often creates valuable habitats for nature conservation. The largest area of the former gypsum quarry was backfilled and then reforested with the aim of creating a near-natural forest. Gradually, the initially patchy mixed deciduous forest has developed into a species-rich oak-hornbeam forest. Many butterflies, such as the imperial cloak, numerous dragonflies, the centaury, the marsh iris and the rare marsh fritillary feel at home here. The quarry was selected as a nature reserve by the Steigerwald Nature Park, the local Southern Steigerwald Local Action Group and the Middle Franconia Landscape Conservation Association. Due to the many rare animal and plant species, it is a very sensitive nature reserve, which is why hikers should always stay on the designated paths.

ehemalige Steinbruch bei Markt Bibart, Foto: Stefanie Binder
ehemalige Steinbruch bei Markt Bibart, Foto: Stefanie Binder
ehemalige Steinbruch bei Markt Bibart, Foto: Stefanie Binder

Direction

Follow the route through the mixed deciduous forest in a north-westerly and northerly direction until you reach Finstersee. The name may sound eerie, but behind it lies a romantic spot on earth.

Dark Lake

Today, the Finstersee is a large meadow. Until the 18th century, there really was a lake here with lots of fish. The meadow owes its name Finstersee to the shady high forest that surrounded the former lake. A former trade route called Gemeindedämmchen or Dornheimer Weg runs right through this meadow.

Phone: 09162 8247
Email Address: info@markt-bibart.de
Finstersee bei Markt Bibart, Foto: Stefanie Binder

Tour ends on Markt Bibart Bahnhof

Direction

The way back to the railway station is partly on Gipsstraße, via the Knauf biotope and Finstersee lake. When you reach Markt Bibart from the north-west, cross the railway tracks on Jahnstraße and follow the road until you reach Würzburger Straße, where you turn right and walk about 150 metres directly to Gasthof Rotes Roß.
In this family-run inn you can enjoy Greek or German cuisine. (Würzburger Straße 2, 91477 Markt Bibart; Tel: 09162 9282430, opening hours: Mon - Fri from 3:30 pm, Sat/Sun from 10:30 am, Sat from 1 - 4 pm lunch break)

Before you make your way back from the inn, take a look at St Mary's Church, which Julius Echter had built here in 1614 as part of the Counter-Reformation. After about 400 metres, Bahnhofstraße takes you to the train station and your train.

Tour map

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