A loop to the Main loop - travelling in Lower Franconia

550 bicycle parking spaces are located in the immediate vicinity of the railway 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 hire your bike.

In addition to the shop and workshop, bikes can also be hired here for an excursion or longer trip.

You cycle back to the railway station and continue north-east out of the city. The tour leads between meadows and fields and along small streams. You cycle under the A7 motorway to Seligenstadt near Würzburg. You will pass a stop on the Mainschleifen railway, 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 Franconian wine region, these places have a name: "terroir f". This term encompasses the natural environment that contributes to the creation of a wine. At the terroir f site high above Volkach, the vines of the large Escherndorfer Lump vineyards thrive, a vineyard that is known as one of the hottest sites in Franconia in terms of climate.

A movable photovoltaic element shows how strong the sun shines here, while information steles 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 line the course of the River Main, dotted with viewpoints, churches and wineries. Only a few sections of the Vogelsburg, an early medieval castle complex, have survived. The centre of today's complex is the Church of the Protection of the Virgin Mary.

The next destination is the Volkach-Astheim station of the Mainschleifenbahn railway 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 only be taken on the train to a limited extent, just leave your bike and get on the train. The journey to the final stop in Seligenstadt takes 25 minutes. You will need one hour and 10 minutes for the inserted excursion on tracks.

It is one of the last surviving 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 its closure in 1994, an association campaigned to revive the 10-kilometre route and preserve this unique technical monument. The views during the journey are magnificent, passing meadow orchards, cool riparian forests and green vineyards, with unique views of the famous pilgrimage church Maria im Weingarten and the wine villages of Fahr, Eisenheim, Escherndorf and Nordheim.

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

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

Once across the Main on the other bank a little north of the bridge, you will find 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 guests on 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 jetty in Stammheim, before the Wipfeld lock the ship turns round and after approx. 90 minutes it returns to the jetty in Volkach. There is an on-board service with cappuccino and cake, Franconian bratwurst, hot and cold dishes and meals for children. There is a choice of eight different Franconian wines to match the view.

ATTENTION: There is only limited capacity for bicycles! It is therefore better to plan a round trip without bicycles.

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

Cycle south along the right bank of the Main Canal near Volkach to Schwarzach am Main. Cross the Main there and cycle westwards back towards Würzburg.