Laudenbach: Castle, Main River and Sound Quarry

At Laudenbach, the landscapes of the Odenwald and the Main Valley meet. Here, the Odenwald drops steeply towards the Main Valley, bringing together the landscapes of a low mountain range and a river valley. From the heights above Laudenbach, the view stretches across the Main Valley to the Spessart hills on the opposite bank. This combination of high ground and river valley gives the town a distinct landscape character.

Castle history and living tradition

The Baroque castle in Laudenbach was built between 1717 and 1747 by Josepha Maria Elisabeth, née Freiin von Eyb and widow of Lieutenant General Field Marshal 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 also shapes the town’s history: it has been preserved as Laudenbach’s second landmark alongside the castle.

Another side of local culture is represented by Laudenbach’s Easter Night singing. This traditional begging custom is observed during Holy Week and is distinguished by three-part male singing. It has been documented since 1908 and is considered one of the last surviving forms of a custom that was once widespread. The castle and Easter Night singing therefore offer different cultural experiences: a historic complex on the one hand, and a custom associated with singing on the other.

Sounds, water and outdoor activities

On the edge of town, a former red sandstone quarry has been 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. The sound quarry is signposted from the nature park car park on the MIL3 country road (Odenwaldstraße), outside Laudenbach, and is easy to reach on foot.

The Main near Laudenbach offers opportunities for water sports and boat trips, as well as fishing. This lets you give your stay a different focus from a tour through the countryside: riverside activities take centre stage by the water, while hiking and cycling offer different types of routes.

The Brunnthal hike is an easy, 14.6-kilometre circular walk between Laudenbach am Main and Michelstadt-Vielbrunn. Its centrepiece is the over 300-year-old Lauseiche, a natural monument and one of the oldest oak trees in the Odenwald. The route passes through the picturesque Brunnthal valley, with its springs and fishponds. The nature park car park “Tal Laudenbach” is available for hikers on Odenwaldstraße (MIL3), 63925 Laudenbach am Main. The Main Cycle Route offers a different kind of outing: it passes through Laudenbach as an easy 55.0-kilometre cycle ride. You can therefore choose between a circular walk linking two towns and a longer cycling route.

Culture in the Miltenberg destination

Miltenberg also offers its own cultural highlights. Museum Stadt presents the history of the town and region in three historic half-timbered houses on Miltenberg’s market square, the Schnatterloch. The Miltenberg district’s Cultural Weeks take place annually from mid-September and offer a varied programme for all ages. They include concerts featuring classical and contemporary music, as well as jazz and electronic music events; individual offerings vary from year to year.

Discover more destinations: Großheubach, Niedernberg, Kirchzell, Bürgstadt, Weilbach, Leidersbach, Rüdenau, Erlenbach Am Main

Go to the main travel overview: Miltenberg.