Circular walk in Markt Bibart

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 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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.