On the Main near Laudenbach, riverside scenery, the heights of the Odenwald and striking traces of the town’s history come together. The Baroque castle and Easter night singing add cultural highlights, while the sound quarry, a hike and the Main Cycle Route offer further attractions. The river offers opportunities for water sports, fishing and boat trips.
Castle, Landmarks and Traditions
The Baroque castle in Laudenbach was built between 1717 and 1747 by Josepha Maria Elisabeth, née Baroness von Eyb and widow of Lieutenant General Reichart von Fechenbach. The castle complex includes a picturesque park with rare trees and a garden pavilion. The onion dome of the former Rococo church has been preserved as Laudenbach’s second landmark, alongside the castle. The two landmarks represent different periods of architecture: the castle from the Baroque era and the surviving tower of a former Rococo church.
Laudenbach’s Easter night singing is a traditional caroling custom practiced during Holy Week, featuring three-part male singing. It has been documented since 1908 and is considered one of the last surviving forms of a once widespread custom. Its connection to Holy Week is an important point to bear in mind if you would like to include Easter night singing in your travel plans.
Landscape and Sound
Near Laudenbach, the Odenwald slopes steeply down to the Main valley, linking the landscape of a low mountain range with that of a river valley. From the heights above Laudenbach, you can enjoy a unique view across the Main valley to the Spessart hills on the opposite bank.
The former red sandstone quarry on the outskirts of town is equipped with large sound installations. At the quarry sound experience, children and adults can make music and experiment with sound using the installed tubes, humming stone, dendrophone and xylophone. The site is also suitable for playing and picnicking.
For the Brunnthal hike, there is a Nature Park car park called “Tal Laudenbach” on Odenwaldstraße (MIL3), 63925 Laudenbach am Main. The sound quarry is signposted from the Nature Park car park on the MIL3 country road (Odenwaldstraße), outside Laudenbach, and is an easy walk away.
Hiking, Cycling and the Main
The Brunnthal hike is an easy, 14.6-kilometre circular route between Laudenbach am Main and Michelstadt-Vielbrunn. It passes through the picturesque Brunnthal valley, with its springs and fishponds. The highlight of the hike is the over-300-year-old Lauseiche, a protected natural monument near Laudenbach and one of the oldest oaks in the Odenwald.
The Main Cycle Route passes through Laudenbach as an easy, 55.0-kilometre cycling tour. The tours differ in mode of travel and route format: a 14.6-kilometre circular hike or a 55.0-kilometre cycling tour that passes through Laudenbach.
The Main near Laudenbach offers opportunities for fishing, as well as water sports and boat trips. This means that, alongside routes on land, there are also activities on the river to choose from. While the heights above the town offer views across the Main valley to the Spessart, these activities focus on the river.
Discover more destinations: Dorfprozelten, Kleinheubach, RĂĽdenau, Stadtprozelten, EichenbĂĽhl, Miltenberg, Erftal, Collenberg.
Return to the main travel overview: Miltenberg.
