The Schweinfurt district offers a wide range of discoveries: the Brönnhof natural area, wine hikes in Handthal and the Passion Play stage in Sömmersdorf. You can tailor your trip to the things that interest you most—nature and outdoor activities, wine country or cultural history.
Nature and trails in the district
On 13 January 2016, Brönnhof was designated part of Germany’s National Natural Heritage. The former military training area covers 746 hectares and provides a habitat for protected species such as the Bechstein’s bat and the great crested newt. Ellertshäuser See in the north of the district is another place to enjoy nature and recreation: it is used as a local recreational area.
You can also explore the district on foot or by bike. It has an extensive network of hiking trails and a well-developed cycle network spanning more than 800 kilometres. The district is responsible for signposting the junctions on its hiking and cycling routes. If you would like to get your bearings in advance, the Schweinfurt 360° Tourist Information Centre provides cycling and hiking maps as well as suggested tours; digital maps are also available on its website.
This information offers several starting points for planning your excursions: you can explore hiking and cycling routes based on your interests and use maps or suggested tours to find your way. The trails and landscapes offer different ways to experience the region, so you don’t have to commit to just one way of getting around.
Wine country and panoramic views
In Handthal, wine hikes wind through the vineyards to the “terroir-F-Punkt” viewpoint on Handthaler Stollberg, beside the castle ruins. The route links the wine country with a clearly designated destination. For visitors who would like to discover wine beyond the trail, Groha Winery in Oberschwarzach offers wine tastings, guided wine experiences and wine cellar tours. Check the specific offerings and booking conditions in advance.
The Kreuz Luisenhöhe in Schwanfeld offers a different perspective on the landscape: from there, a 360-degree panorama stretches across the Main, the vineyards of Vogelsburg, Heiligenthal, the Steigerwald and the Haßberge. The places and landscapes named here give you an idea of how far the view extends from this lookout point.
Cultural stories and special places
In Egenhausen, the Franconian Wayside Shrine Centre presents a modern permanent exhibition on the cultural history of wayside shrines in an area of around 90 square metres. In Werneck, two more discoveries offer different ways to explore the town: the palace gardens invite you to stroll among their English-style landscape, exotic plants and pond. Parts of Werneck Palace are open to visitors, including the Hall of Heaven and the Baroque palace church. Check the specific visitor information before setting out.
You can explore Euerbach on a historic circular route. Its garden of boundary stones is also described as unique in Germany. In Sömmersdorf, the Passion Trails begin at the Passion Gallery. The gallery displays unique photographs from the 1930s and illustrates the history of the Passion Play stage from 1933 to the present day. The Passion Plays take place every five years; check the dates of individual performances before your trip.
Getting around and planning
Public transport connects the entire Schweinfurt district with the Mainfranken region via main and secondary routes, school buses, city buses, rail services, routes operated by other transport authorities and the callheinz mobility service. If no bus or train connection is available, callheinz takes passengers from a callheinz stop to a transfer point on a scheduled service or directly to their destination. Timetables, availability and booking conditions may change, so check the latest information in advance.
When choosing accommodation in Schweinfurt, the experiences that interest you most can be a good place to start: nature and trails, wine or cultural history. This lets you connect your search with your own idea of what your stay should be like.
Discover more destinations: Werneck, Wasserlosen, Schweinfurt, Schonungen, Poppenhausen, Gerolzhofen, Kolitzheim, Geldersheim, Üchtelhausen, Bergrheinfeld, Dittelbrunn, Stadtlauringen, Oberschwarzach, Euerbach, Frankenwinheim, Gochsheim, Grafenrheinfeld, Grettstadt, Röthlein, Schwebheim, Sennfeld, Waigolshausen, Dingolshausen, Wipfeld, Michelau Im Steigerwald, Donnersdorf, Hundelshausen, Sulzheim.
See the overall travel guide: Bavaria.
