Main River Bicycle Tour and other Germany Off The Beaten Path Tips

W�rzburg and the Main River

My Main River tour begins (for the time being) here in W�rzburg, a city in Franconia (Franken) which is 204 kilometers upstream from my home city of Frankfurt.

W�rzburg is also 243 kilometers upstream from Mainz, which is where the Main River ends because it flows into the Rhine.

There are well-marked bicycle paths, mostly free of automobile traffic, all along the river, at least on one side but sometimes on both.

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Website: http://www.mainradweg.com

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Off The Beaten Path: Gem�nden

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Updated by Nemorino

on May 1, 2007

Gem�nden am Main

by Nemorino , 1 more photos

Two smaller rivers, the Sinn and the Fr�nkische Saale, flow into the Main here at Gem�nden, a town of some 11,000 inhabitants.

I have cycled through through here three times thus far, once along the Main from W�rzburg and the other two times through the Spessart hills and down the Sinn Valley, as shown in the Off the Beaten Path tips on my Bad Orb page.

Second photo: This part of the Main River, below Gem�nden, as seen from the train in April 2007 -- with cyclists on the trail by the river bank.

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Website: http://www.stadt-gemuenden.de/

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Off The Beaten Path: The Nantenbach Curve

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Written by Nemorino

on Aug 21, 2004

The Nantenbach Curve

The bridge in this photo is part of a recently built stretch of railway line called the Nantenbach Curve, connecting the old Main Valley line to the new high speed north-south ICE line.

The InterCity Express train in the photo has just come from Frankfurt and Aschaffenburg. After crossing the curving bridge it will continue through several curving tunnels and join the new line to W�rzburg.

The Nantenbach Curve was opened in May 1994. It cost 410 million Marks at the time (about 210 million Euros) and speeds up the journey to W�rzburg by twelve minutes.

The river barge going up the Main River in the photo will also get to W�rzburg eventually, following various bends in the river.

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Off The Beaten Path: The 50th parallel

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Written by Nemorino

on Aug 21, 2004

The 50th parallel

Shortly before the town of Lohr we cross the 50th parallel. There is a red line painted across the bicycle route at this point, with the number 50.

Beside the bicycle route there is a large boulder with a plaque, set up by the local chapter of the Social Democratic Party, listing some of the places in the world that are on the 50th parallel. Lohr is listed first, of course, followed by Aschaffenburg, Wiltz (Luxembourg), Arnstein, the southern tip of England, Schesslitz, Winnipeg (Canada), Prague, Krakau (Poland), Charkov (Russia), Tenurtan (Kasachstan), Ulangom (Mongolia) and Sachalin.

Any questions?

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Off The Beaten Path: Lohr

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Updated by Nemorino

on Apr 14, 2005

Lohr

The historic Old Town of Lohr is on the right bank of the Main River. A good place to stop for lunch or a drink, or just to have a look around.

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Website: http://www.lohr.de/

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Off The Beaten Path: The School Museum in Lohr

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Written by Nemorino

on Aug 21, 2004

The School Museum in Lohr

One of the more fascinating little museums in this part of the country, the School Museum in Lohr traces the development of schools and their function in society from the 19th century to the present.

It includes an authentic classroom from the year 1910, and also has exhibits showing how the schools were used for indoctrination by the Nazis in the 1930s and 40s, and by the Communist government in the former East Germany.

The museum is only open Wednesday through Sunday from 2 to 4 pm (14.00 to 16.00), so try to time your visit accordingly.

Sendelbacher Str. 21, on the left bank of the Main River in Lohr.

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Phone: 0 93 59 / 3 17

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Off The Beaten Path: Rothenfels

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Updated by Nemorino

on May 18, 2005

Rothenfels

Old city and castle on the right bank of the Main River, between Lohr and Marktheidenfeld.

There is a youth hostel up in the castle, by the way.

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Website: http://www.burg-rothenfels.de/burgseite/start.htm

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Off The Beaten Path: Marktheidenfeld

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Updated by Nemorino

on Jan 15, 2006

Mainkai in Marktheidenfeld

by Nemorino , 1 more photos

This street, Mainkai, runs directly along the left bank of the Main River in the town of Marktheidenfeld, and has several small hotels, pensions and restaurants.

Second photo: There is no internet cafe in Marktheidenfeld, but here in the new city hall there is a public internet terminal that anyone can use for free. The time limit is fifteen minutes if other people are waiting, and the woman at the tourist office sees to it that the local kids don't monopolize the terminal if tourists are waiting to use it.

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Website: http://www.marktheidenfeld.de/stadtinfo/stadtportraet/4099,19050.html

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Off The Beaten Path: Locks near Lengfurt

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Updated by Nemorino

on Feb 10, 2006

Locks near Lengfurt

by Nemorino , 1 more photos

This part of the Main River is regulated by locks every few miles or kilometers. Here a ship is entering the locks near the town of Lengfurt, below Marktheidenfeld.

Second photo: The only factory along this part of the Main River is this cement factory at Lengfurt, which belongs to the Heidelburg Cement Company. The raw materials are delivered by river barge.

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Website: http://www.zementwerk-lengfurt.de/

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Off The Beaten Path: Schlo� Homburg

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Updated by Nemorino

on Jun 6, 2005

Schlo� Homburg