Sommerkahl combines a distinctive mining history with a nature trail and a cycling tour that connects the village to a longer route. The parish church was built from red sandstone in 1961. Anyone looking for a holiday apartment in Sommerkahl can choose what to focus on according to their own interests: mining, scenery and cycling offer different ways to explore the village and its surroundings.
Wilhelmine Mine: Mining and Geology
Copper ore mining in the Wilhelmine Mine area was first documented in 1704. The mine produced copper, iron and manganese for centuries. Its mining history is therefore marked both by an early written record and by the long-term extraction of various ores.
One geological feature is the 20-metre-high gneiss wall. Large areas of the rock are covered with green malachite and blue azurite; both minerals are secondary copper ores. The description of the mine therefore encompasses not only its historical production but also the copper minerals visible there.
Some of the old tunnels have been exposed and illuminated. In addition, the slope above the mine entrance was secured and an information building with toilets was constructed. Advance registration is required for guided visits.
Nature Trail and Scenery around Sommerkahl
The “Around Wilhelmine” nature trail explores the scenery around Sommerkahl and invites locals and visitors to enjoy a nature experience. People have shaped the landscape for many centuries; agriculture and mining have influenced the surrounding area. The history of settlement also reaches far back: the area around Sommerkahl has been inhabited for more than 800 years.
The nature trail was created in 2006 in collaboration with the Spessart Nature Park, the municipality of Sommerkahl, the Sommerkahl “Wilhelmine Mine” Copper Mine Association (e.V.), the Lower Nature Conservation Authority in Aschaffenburg district and the Government of Lower Franconia. The connection between nature and human activity is essential to understanding the area: alongside agriculture, mining is one of the influences that have shaped the landscape around Sommerkahl.
Cycling: Sommerkahl on a Longer Route
The Westerngrund–Heimbuchenthal cycling tour, formerly R6, runs from Huckelheim via Sommerkahl and Bessenbach and the Hohe Warte to Heimbuchenthal. Sommerkahl is therefore on a route that passes through several places and waypoints. This distinguishes it from the nature trail, which explores the landscape around Sommerkahl. If you include the cycling tour in your plans, check local route conditions before setting off.
More Routes in the Wider Aschaffenburg Destination
The wider Aschaffenburg destination offers other cycling and hiking options, each with its own route profile. The Main Cycle Route runs through the Main valley in Aschaffenburg district, is well signposted and is rated as family-friendly. The Kahltal-Spessart Cycle Route is also signposted and passes through landscapes in the district. In the eastern Hochspessart, four challenging cross-country trails are signposted as Bikewald-Spessart routes.
For hikers, Spessart Trails 1, 2 and 3 pass through the district; the German Hiking Association has awarded them the “Quality Trail Wanderable Germany” designation four times. The Eselsweg is a multi-day tour in the district. These regional options differ from the Westerngrund–Heimbuchenthal cycling tour, which specifically passes through Sommerkahl, and broaden the view of the wider Aschaffenburg destination.
Discover more destinations: Schöllkrippen, Kleinkahl, Rohrbrunner Forst, Rothenbuch, Haibach, Kahl, Kleinostheim, Karlstein am Main
Return to the overview of the wider destination: Aschaffenburg.
