Unterrodach – Rafting History and Landscape

Unterrodach combines its rafting history with a varied hedgerow landscape that is a popular local recreation area. The rafting museum, St. Michael’s Church and the annual raft festival each add a different dimension to the town’s history; trails and recreation areas complement its cultural attractions with opportunities to enjoy nature.

Rafting history in the house and museum

The Unterrodach Rafting Museum is housed in a former rafting master’s house, whose structure dates back to the 17th century. Its ten rooms explore rafting and sawmills, forestry work, trade, customs duties and the goods carried by rafts. The impact of the railway and the canalisation of the Main, as well as the decline of the rafting profession, are also among the topics covered. Photographs, models, tools and films illustrate the exhibitions.

The magnificent rafting masters’ houses in Unterrodach are considered exceptionally well-preserved historic buildings. This means you can encounter rafting culture not only in the museum, but also in the town’s historic architecture.

Church and raft festival

Construction of St. Michael’s Church in Unterrodach began in March 1805. The all-day raft festival takes place every year on the first Sunday after 1 August. Its highlight is a traditional raft trip from the Angerwehr weir to the centre of Unterrodach—provided water levels allow. If the raft trip is your main reason for visiting, take this condition into account when planning.

Landscape and trails

The area around Unterrodach has a particularly beautiful, varied hedgerow landscape that is popular for local recreation. The slopes along the Way of the Cross to Kreuzberg and on towards Unterrodach are also important for recreation close to town. The open spaces on the plateau around the airfield are too.

Shortly after Unterrodach, the Franconian Way descends into the Kronach basin. From the Franconian Way above Unterrodach, a meadow path and a steep, narrow local road lead to the rafting museum. The wider destination of Marktrodach also has the Rodachtal Trail KC 11, which passes through Unterrodach and leads, among other places, to the church, town hall and rafting museum. The route is rated easy, is 13.1 kilometres long and has 112 metres of elevation gain; its length, elevation gain and stated difficulty can help you assess it.

A wider look at Marktrodach

The Unterrodach Rafting Museum has been housed in the rafting masters’ house since 1981 and is the museum of the Marktrodach municipality. In the wider destination of Marktrodach, visits outside regular opening hours can be arranged in advance with the municipal administration. Contact them a few days before your planned visit. An anchor and a model raft in the parish church of St. Michael in Unterrodach commemorate the rafting on the Rodach, which shaped the town.

Marktrodach lies within the Franconian Forest Nature Park. At the 678-metre-high Radspitze in Marktrodach, paragliding and hang gliding are options for active visitors. Marktrodach also offers good conditions for mountain bikers and people who are just starting out. The Radspitz Tower is freely accessible, but may be closed during the winter months due to weather conditions.

To the wider travel overview: Marktrodach.