Discover Aschaffenburg: Castle, culture and cycling routes

Aschaffenburg combines distinctive architectural history with art and cycling routes that reveal different sides of the city. Johannisburg Castle and the Collegiate Basilica provide historical highlights; the KirchnerHAUS is dedicated to Ernst Ludwig Kirchner’s childhood and exhibitions related to Kirchner. The northern route of the Green Bicycle Route and the Main Cycle Route offer further route options.

Castle, Basilica and KirchnerHAUS

Johannisburg Castle was built between 1605 and 1614 by Elector-Archbishop Johann Schweikard von Kronberg. It is considered one of Germany’s most significant architectural works of the late Renaissance, making it a tangible point of reference for Aschaffenburg’s architectural history. The Collegiate Basilica houses an Ottonian crucifix from the 10th century. The castle and the crucifix thus point to historical periods separated by a great span of time—a contrast that draws attention to the city’s diverse cultural themes.

Since 2013, the KirchnerHAUS Museum has served as a documentation centre on Ernst Ludwig Kirchner’s childhood and as a forum for exhibitions related to Kirchner. This adds another perspective alongside architectural history: the venue focuses both on the artist’s childhood and on exhibitions connected with him. If you are planning your stay around cultural interests, the castle, basilica and museum offer different points of connection.

Green routes and paths into the city centre

The northern route of the Green Bicycle Route passes the historic gardens of Grossmutterwiese and Schöntal and goes by Johannisburg Castle. The Main Cycle Route leads into Aschaffenburg city centre via the cycle path on Willigis Bridge. The routes can be distinguished by their described courses: the northern route features gardens and the castle as waypoints, while the Main Cycle Route leads into the city centre. Check the local route signs before setting out on a specific ride.

Cycling in the wider Aschaffenburg destination

In the wider Aschaffenburg destination, the Main Cycle Route runs through the Main valley in the Aschaffenburg district; it is classified as family-friendly and is well signposted. Another designated option is the Kahl-Spessart Cycle Route, which passes through the district’s landscapes. The four signposted Bikewald-Spessart routes offer a different level of challenge: they are located in the eastern High Spessart in the district and are designated as challenging cross-country routes. The family-friendly rating of the Main Cycle Route and the explicit difficulty rating of the Bikewald routes offer different points of reference for planning a tour.

The “Denk mal – Rad mal” app offers adventure cycling tours in nature across the district, with stories, quizzes and information about sights. If you would like to include digital content in your plans, check before travelling whether the app and its content are available.

Hiking, nature and regional cuisine

The wider Aschaffenburg destination also offers various types of hiking. The Spessart Trails 1, 2 and 3 pass through the Aschaffenburg district and have already been awarded the “Wanderbares Deutschland” quality trail certification four times by the German Hiking Association. The Eselsweg is a multi-day tour in the district. The offer also includes more than 30 hiking tours along the cultural trails of the Archaeological Spessart Project; the number of these tours may change. In the district, the Spessart is part of Germany’s largest contiguous mixed forest area.

Franconian cuisine is also part of getting to know the region: numerous inns and hotels in the Aschaffenburg district serve Franconian specialities and Äppelwoi from local cider presses. Tours of Aschaffenburg’s Old Town and Schönbusch English Landscape Park are adapted to the needs of people with limited mobility. If you are planning such a tour, check availability in advance.

Getting here and finding your way around

Aschaffenburg station is served by regional trains, Regional-Express trains, InterCity trains and InterCityExpress trains. As timetables can change, check connections for your travel date. Schlossplatz and Johannisburg Castle are less than a ten-minute walk from Aschaffenburg station. This information can be helpful when planning your arrival, especially if you want to combine cultural attractions in Aschaffenburg with other tours in the wider destination.

Discover more destinations: Sommerkahl, Geiselbach, Kahl, Kleinkahl, Johannesberg, Krombach, Kleinostheim, Großostheim.

View the wider travel overview: Aschaffenburg.