Circular walk in Markt Bibart
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.
Markt Bibart
3 h
9 km
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
Markt Bibart Bahnhof
9 km / 3 Stunden
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.