At the Markberg Cross, the view stretches across the Rhön and the Brend Valley; a cycling trail lets you experience the Brend in the direction of the Kollertshof ford. There is also the Rhön Wheel Fountain, dedicated to Otto Feick. This gives you different options to focus on when planning your trip: views and a rest stop, a cycling route with a river crossing, or a monument that puts the Rhön wheel centre stage.

Rhön Wheel Fountain, Markberg Cross and the Brend

The Rhön Wheel Fountain commemorates Otto Feick. The inscription names him as the inventor of the Rhön wheel. The monument includes a basalt-stone mound symbolising the Rhön, with a wheel mounted on top. The fountain is located below Kirchberg. The dedication thus links Otto Feick with the Rhön wheel; the design also brings together the Rhön symbol and the fountain.

Markberg Cross stands on the 425-metre-high Markberg. From there, the view stretches across the Rhön and the Brend Valley. A bench offers a place to rest and eat. The viewpoint and rest stop come together here: if you would like to plan a break with a view of the landscape, the cross and the bench are the defining features of this place.

The Brend offers a different perspective along the cycling trail towards the Kollertshof ford. At the ford, you can cross a bridge; there is a bench by the stream where you can take a break. In summer, you can watch horses grazing there. Unlike the rest stop on Markberg, the cycling trail, river and bridge crossing define the experience here. Watching the horses is explicitly a summer feature of the route.

Plan your journey and accommodation

There are covered bus stops in the centre of Schönau. Bus routes 810 and 811 connect the municipality with Bad Neustadt an der Saale, Bischofsheim in der Rhön and Gersfeld. The nearest railway station is in Bad Neustadt an der Saale. If you are planning to travel by public transport, check the current timetable, as bus services may change.

Bad Neustadt a.d.Saale in the wider destination

The wider destination of Bad Neustadt a.d.Saale offers further cultural and landscape highlights to help you find your bearings. The Hohntor in Bad Neustadt was built around 1580 and evokes a medieval atmosphere. The Catholic town parish church of the Assumption of Mary stands at the upper edge of the old town; distinctive columns define its nave. Thursday concerts are held annually in the market square. If a concert interests you when planning your trip, check the date in advance.

Bad Neustadt’s medieval town wall also offers a clearly described walking option: it is heart-shaped, fully preserved and just under two kilometres long; about 1.5 kilometres can be walked in full. Luitpoldhöhe offers a different focus. The 80-metre-high Muschelkalk limestone spur lies above the Mühlbach district and is used as a viewpoint. From there, the view stretches across Bad Neustadt and the Bavarian Rhön. The destinations in the wider destination therefore differ not only in their buildings, but also in the activities they offer: the town wall is notable for its stated walkable length, while Luitpoldhöhe is a viewpoint with specific sights in view.

Go to the wider travel overview: Bad Neustadt An Der Saale.