Discover Mespelbrunn: Cultural Trail and Castle

Discover Mespelbrunn through its cultural history and landscape. The approximately 8 km Unterm Herrnbild cultural trail starts at the Haus des Gastes and the Maximilian Kolbe Church in the modern part of Mespelbrunn and ends back in Mespelbrunn. It takes in the pilgrimage church in Hessenthal, cultural monuments associated with the centuries-old strip farms, and Mespelbrunn Castle. This brings together different aspects of the town’s history rather than focusing on just one building.

Church History and the Castle

The old pilgrimage church in Hessenthal was built in 1439 by the Echter family of Mespelbrunn as their burial place. Another historical trace is a document issued in 1293: it granted episcopal indulgences to the Church of the Glorious Virgin Mary in Hesilndal. Together, these details offer insight into different stages of the local church’s history.

Today, Mespelbrunn Castle is partly a museum and partly the residence of the Counts of Ingelheim family, known as Echter von und zu Mespelbrunn. This shared use is part of its distinctive character. When planning your trip, you can decide whether to focus your stay primarily on the history of the church and castle or more on the cultural monuments along the trail. The trail is approximately 8 km long and ends back in Mespelbrunn.

Cycling and Hiking Days in the Wider Aschaffenburg Destination

The wider Aschaffenburg destination offers a range of cycling options. The family-friendly MainRadweg runs through the Main valley in the district of Aschaffenburg and is well signposted. The Kahltal-Spessart cycle route, which passes through the district’s appealing landscapes, is also signposted. Those specifically looking for challenging cross-country routes will find four signposted Bikewald-Spessart routes in the eastern Hochspessart area of the district. This lets you distinguish between a route classified as family-friendly, a scenic route, and routes explicitly described as challenging when planning your trip.

The wider Aschaffenburg destination also offers a variety of hiking options. The Spessartwege 1, 2, and 3 trails pass through the district and have been awarded the “Qualitätswege Wanderbares Deutschland” quality designation by the German Hiking Association four times. The Eselsweg is a multi-day tour in the district of Aschaffenburg. The Spessart area within the district forms part of Germany’s largest contiguous mixed-forest region. The Denk mal – Rad mal app offers nature-based cycling tours in the district, with stories, quizzes, and information about sights. Check the app and its content are available before your trip.

There are three e-bike charging stations in Mespelbrunn. As visitor services can change, check locally for the latest information before setting out on a tour.

Getting There, Visiting the City, and Regional Cuisine

Aschaffenburg station is served by regional trains, Regional Express trains, InterCity trains, and InterCity Express trains. Check the current timetable for your specific connection. Schlossplatz and Johannisburg Castle are less than a ten-minute walk from the station. Guided tours of Aschaffenburg’s old town and Schönbusch English Landscape Park are adapted to the needs of people with reduced mobility; check the availability of tours in advance.

The wider Aschaffenburg destination also offers a taste of the region: numerous inns and hotels in the district of Aschaffenburg serve Franconian specialties and Äppelwoi from local cider presses. The cultural trail, church history, cycling and hiking routes, and regional cuisine offer different starting points for planning your trip, without requiring you to fit them all into a single itinerary.

Discover more destinations: Heimbuchenthal, Dammbach, Karlstein am Main, Goldbach, Schöllkrippen, Kahl, Großostheim, Rohrbrunner Forst.

Go to the main travel overview: Aschaffenburg.