Main Valley Attractions
Länder: Bavaria, Hesse
The river Main, with a total length of 524km/326mi, is formed by the junction of the Weisser Main (White Main), which rises on the Ochsenkopf in the Fichtelgebirge, and the Roter Main (Red Main), coming from the Franconian Jura, which meet below Kulmbach.
The Main breaks through the Franconian Jura at Lichtenfels, cuts through the hills between the Hassberge and the Steigerwald in its westward course between Bamberg and Hassfurt. It describes a wide bend at Kitzungen through the vine-growing limestone region of the Franconian Plateau and flows round the Spessart sandstone plateau between Gemünden and Aschaffenburg - with the red rock walls of the Spessart to the north and the Odenwald to the south coming close to the river at certain points - to reach the Middle Rhine plain just before Aschaffenburg. It then flows through the Rhine-Main industrial region to join the Rhine opposite Mainz.
Viniculture
The main vine-growing area lies in the Main triangle around Würzburg, but much is also produced on the western slopes of the Steigerwald and on the Frankenhöhe. In the side valleys of the Main and the Saale and Tauber valleys, however, it has lost much of its former importance.
The river Main, with a total length of 524km/326mi, is formed by the junction of the Weisser Main (White Main), which rises on the Ochsenkopf in the Fichtelgebirge, and the Roter Main (Red Main), coming from the Franconian Jura, which meet below Kulmbach.
The Main breaks through the Franconian Jura at Lichtenfels, cuts through the hills between the Hassberge and the Steigerwald in its westward course between Bamberg and Hassfurt. It describes a wide bend at Kitzungen through the vine-growing limestone region of the Franconian Plateau and flows round the Spessart sandstone plateau between Gemünden and Aschaffenburg - with the red rock walls of the Spessart to the north and the Odenwald to the south coming close to the river at certain points - to reach the Middle Rhine plain just before Aschaffenburg. It then flows through the Rhine-Main industrial region to join the Rhine opposite Mainz.
Viniculture
The main vine-growing area lies in the Main triangle around Würzburg, but much is also produced on the western slopes of the Steigerwald and on the Frankenhöhe. In the side valleys of the Main and the Saale and Tauber valleys, however, it has lost much of its former importance.
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Dettelbach, Germany
Up the Main valley is Dettelbach (which can also be reached direct from Würzburg), an old-world little town still surrounded by its 15th C. walls, with 36 towers and two gates. Handsome Late Gothic Town Hall (1492-1512). At the far end of the town is the pilgrimage church of Maria im Sand (16th-17th C.), with a sumptuous main doorway and an altar with a much venerated image of the Virgin (1779).
Gemunden, Germany
Gemünden lies at the junction of the Franconian Saale with the Main. Above the town is a ruined castle, the Scherenburg (13th-14th C.). The Huttenschlösschen houses a Transport Museum.
Hassfurt, Germany
Hassfurt, in the upper Main valley, has remains of its old town walls and gates. In the Markt are the Gothic Town Hall (15th C.) and the twin-towered parish church (15th C.), with a figure of St John the Baptist by Tilman Riemenschneider in the choir. At the east end of the town is the Late Gothic Ritterkapelle (Knights' Chapel; 1390-1455), with 226 coats of arms on the outside of the choir and on the reticulated vaulting of the interior.
The route along the Main continues north by way of Staffelstein, Vierzehnheiligen and Banz, followed by Lichtenfels and Burgkunstadt.
The route along the Main continues north by way of Staffelstein, Vierzehnheiligen and Banz, followed by Lichtenfels and Burgkunstadt.
Iphofen, Germany
From Kitzingen in the Main Valley a detour can be made to the charming little town of Iphofen, with well preserved town walls, three fortified gates and other old buildings (Late Gothic parish church, Amtshaus of 1693, Town Hall of 1717).
Kitzingen, Germany
Kitzingen, lies in a fertile basin in the Main valley. The town's principal landmark is the Falterturm (15th-16th C.), which now houses the German Shrovetide (Carnival) Museum. In the Marktplatz stand the fine Renaissance Town Hall (1561-63), the massive Marktturm (c. 1360) and the Protestant parish church (17th C.), with a Baroque facade. In the Etwashausen district is the Heiligkreuzkirche (Holy Cross Church; 1741-45) by Balthasar Neumann.
Kleinheubach, Germany
In Kleinheubach, in the Main Valley, is the Baroque Schloss of the Princes Löwenstein. Opposite it are Grossheubach (half-timbered Town Hall, 1612) and, higher up, the Franciscan friary of Engelsberg with its Baroque pilgrimage church (view).
Klingenberg, Germany
Opposite Trennfurt in the Main Valley is the little town of Klingenberg. Above the town stands a ruined castle.
Lohr, Germany
The road along the Main runs north, passing Rothenfels (Town Hall of 1599, Renaissance parish church, large castle), to Lohr, an old-world little town of half-timbered houses. In the Marktplatz stands the large Renaissance Town Hall (1599-1602) and to the northwest the old 16th century Schloss of the Electors of Mainz, with the Spessart Museum.
Main Valley Route
From Frankfurt am Main (in Hesse) the Main route follows B 8 or the motorway to Aschaffenburg and then runs up the left bank of the Main. At Grosswallstadt is a dam. On the opposite bank is Kleinwallstadt, which has a fine Roccoco church (1752).
Marktbreit, Germany
The old-world little town of Marktbreit was once a prosperous town thanks to its coffee trade and the shipping trade on the Main. On the banks of the river is the Old Crane (1784). The town has a large Town Hall (1579) and Baroque burghers' houses, and a Renaissance Schloss (1580) of the Counts of Seinsheim.
Marktheidenfeld, Germany
At Marktheidenfeld in the Main Valley a bridge links the Main area with the Spessart. The town has a large Maradies swimming pool.
Marktheidenfeld Tourist Office
Luitpoldstrasse 17
D-97828 Marktheidenfeld
Germany
Luitpoldstrasse 17
D-97828 Marktheidenfeld
Germany
Obernburg, Germany
The little town of Obernburg in the Main Valley occupies the site of a Roman fort (museum in the Römerhaus). It preserves its old town gates and towers.
Ochsenfurt, Germany
The little town of Ochsenfurt in the Main Valley has a handsome Town Hall (the "New Town Hall" of 1488-99) and many half-timbered buildings. In the Gothic parish church are a tabernacle from the workshop of Adam Kraft and a statue of St Nicholas by Tilman Riemenschneider. The town also has a Heimatmuseum (local costumes, etc.).
Stadtprozelten, Germany
At Mondfeld in the Main Valley a ferry crosses the river to the little town of Stadtprozelten, above which rises a massive ruined castle, the Henneburg (12th-15th C.).
Wertheim, Germany
At the junction of the Tauber with the Main lies the pretty little town of Wertheim. In the Marktplatz are a number of handsome half-timbered houses, and nearby is the plain Gothic parish church, with tombs of the Counts of Wertheim (15th-18th C.) in the choir. The town has a Glass Museum. Above the town is Burg Wertheim (enlarged in 16th C.).
Beyond Wertheim it is possible to short-circuit the long northward loop in the Main and make direct for Würzburg. The road following the Main valley turns north, still on the left bank of the river.
Beyond Wertheim it is possible to short-circuit the long northward loop in the Main and make direct for Würzburg. The road following the Main valley turns north, still on the left bank of the river.
