The Main is the longest right tributary of the Rhine. At Kulmbach Its two source rivers, the White Main and the Red Main, combine to form the Main. Over a length of 81 kilometers to the mouth of the Regnitz near Bischberg it flows as Obermain. From Bamberg the river is navigable by ship up to its confluence with the Rhine. For tips on planning your trip, see also Main cycle path.
background
The course of the Main can be divided into sections Upper Mainland (with the two source rivers White main and Red Main); Main Franconia (With Main triangle and Main square) and Rhine Main Area be structured. Important tributaries are Franconian Saale, Sinn, Kinzig, Tauber and Nidda. The mouth of the Main is the Rhine on the Maaraue in Mainz-Kostheim (district of Wiesbaden). The Main-Danube Canal provides a connection from Bamberg to Kelheim on the Danube.
In the Main Valley, the climate is warmer and less rainfall than in the respective neighboring regions.
The name
Among the Celts, the river became Hello or Mogin called. Later with the Romans the name was Latinized to the name Moenus.
In Upper Franconia the river is called Maa, in the east of Lower Franconia it becomes the Mee, in the area around Wertheimer, Miltenberg and in the Aschaffenburg area it is the Moa, in the city of Aschaffenburg he will Mää called and from Seligenstadt, via Frankfurt to the estuary then again Maa, but locally partially evaporated or nasalized.
fishes
The most common fish in the Main is now the fish that is only a few centimeters in size Black Sea Goby in several subspecies, actually a foreign fish in the Main. The first Black Sea gobies probably found their way into the ballast tanks of river ships over the Danube and the Rhine-Main-Danube Canal into the Main around the turn of the millennium, where they find ideal living and breeding spaces and can spread easily in the boulders along the bank.
The goby is an omnivore and is therefore also a threat to other fish species, their brood, and also for fish nourishing animals such as small crustaceans or insect larvae and molluscs, but is also itself a food fish for predatory fish such as perch. The impact on the ecosystems in the Main cannot yet be assessed. The gobies have so far been rather unpopular with anglers because they are too small for food. But they are often used as bait for predatory fish.
A newspaper article about Black Sea Goby (Main Post, Nov. 2013);
to eat and drink
The first vineyards can be found a few kilometers downstream from Bamberg. Much of the Franconian wine grows in the Main Valley on the warm southern slopes. Popular white wines are Silvaner, Müller-Thurgau (Rivaner) and Bacchus. Among the reds, Dornfelder, Pinot Noir and the popular Domina are the main varieties. Rotling is a local specialty, red and white grapes are pressed together, the result is a rosé-colored wine. Rotling is not a grape variety, but a type of wine.
Meefischli (Mainfischchen) are a Main Franconian specialty. They are small fried fish from the Main. They are prepared freshly caught and eaten whole, without any side dishes, without cutlery.
Regular events
- Epiphany Swimming in the Main (am 06.01.): as a long route from Randersacker (5 km) and as a short route from Graf-Luckner Weiher (approx. 2.5 km) to the Lion Bridge in Würzburg, organized by the DLRG Lower Franconia. The Main is briefly closed to shipping. With water temperatures around 3 ° C, it is icy fun without age restrictions, but a wetsuit is compulsory.
getting there
- Important airports are located at Nuremberg and Frankfurt
- ICE train stations are Lichtenfels, Bamberg (Berlin – Munich line), Wurzburg (Frankfurt / Hanover – Munich line), Aschaffenburg (Frankfurt – Munich line), Hanau (Berlin – Mannheim line) and Frankfurt (main train station and airport)
- is the closest train station to the source of the Red Main Cussen (RE line Nuremberg – Bayreuth); to the source of the White Main Willow Hill (Agilis from Bayreuth); to the Mainz confluence Mainleus (RE line Lichtenfels – Nürnberg / Hof or Agilis Bayreuth – Lichtenfels – Bad Rodach)
- The railway stations are closest to the mouth of the Main Mainz-Kastel (RB Frankfurt – Wiesbaden – Koblenz or S-Bahn) and Mainz-Gustavsburg (RB Wiesbaden – Mainz – Darmstadt – Aschaffenburg or S-Bahn)
- As a “feeder” to the headwaters of the White Main, the D route 11 (Baltic Sea - Upper Bavaria), which connects the Saaleradweg manufactures, or the Fichtelgebirgs-Radweg (also D-Route 5 and EuroVelo 4 "Central Europe Route") from the direction of the Bohemian spa triangle.
- In Mainz and Wiesbaden the transition from / to Rhine cycle route possible.
Here we go
Shipping
The Main is from Bamberg to the confluence with the Rhine navigable, off Bamberg there is a connection to the Rhine-Main-Danube Canal Danube.
The Main is also an important waterway for goods traffic and can also be used by pleasure boats.
- 2 Franconian passenger shipping, Hauptstrasse 42, 97332 Volkach am Main. Tel.: 49(0)9381 71088-0. Around the Volkacher Mainschleife, journey time about 1.5 hours.Open: April to October 10 a.m., 12 p.m., 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. in Volkach, in 1 Stammheim 40 minutes later each time.Price: € 12, 4 to 13 years old € 8.
- 4 Ship tourism Würzburg, St. Norbert-Strasse 9; 97299 Zell. Tel.: 49(0)931 58573. Line trip Würzburg - 3 Veitshöchheim landing site.Open: From May to September: Weekends and public holidays 10: 00-17: 00 on the hour, Mon-Fri 11:00, 14:00, 15:45, Veitshöchheim 50 minutes later.Price: simple € 9, 4-12 years € 5; Return ticket € 12, children € 6.50, bike € 2.
- 5 Lohrer Schiffstouristik, Ostlandstrasse 34, 97816 Lohr am Main. Tel.: 49(0)9352 807212. Karlstadt - Lohr - Marktheidenfeld.Open: May to September: Tuesday line trip Lohr - Marktheidenfeld, Wed-Sun round trips.Price: 1 hour travel time € 8, children from 1 m height € 4; 1.5 hours € 10 and € 5.
- 9 Shipping company Henneberger, Mainanlagen, 63897 Miltenberg. Tel.: 49(0)9371 33 30. More trips to Miltenberg - 6 Buergerstadt landing stage - 7 Freudenstadt landing stage - 8 Wertheim landing stage.Open: March to October daily 10:45 am, 1:45 pm, 3:15 pm round trips from Miltenberg.Price: € 9.50, children € 6.
- 10 Aschaffenburg passenger shipping, Ruhlandstrasse 5, 63741 Aschaffenburg. Tel.: 49(0)6021 87288. Passenger shipping between Aschaffenburg, Seligenstadt and Frankfurt am Main.
- 11 Primus line, Mainkai 36, 60311 Frankfurt. Tel.: 49 69 133837-26. To Seligenstadt and Aschaffenburg. On the Rhine to Bingen.
By train
Various railway lines accompany the Main in its course. The fastest train connection from Bayreuth am Main to Wiesbaden takes over five hours (changes in Bamberg, Nuremberg and Frankfurt), but the Mainviereck is shortened.
- RB Weidenberg – Bayreuth
- RE Creußen – Bayreuth – Lichtenfels
- RE (Bayreuth–) Lichtenfels – Bamberg
- RE Bamberg – Würzburg – Aschaffenburg – Frankfurt or RB Bamberg – Würzburg – Gemünden
- RB Marktbreit – Würzburg
- RB Gemünden – Aschaffenburg
- RE Wertheim – Aschaffenburg or RB Wertheim – Miltenberg and RB Miltenberg – Aschaffenburg
- RB Aschaffenburg – Hanau – Frankfurt
- S-Bahn Frankfurt – Mainz-Kastel or Frankfurt – Mainz-Gustavsburg
There is no railway line accompanying the Main between Lohr and Wertheim - here you have to use buses (via Marktheidenfeld).
In the street
- The highway
runs between Bayreuth and Schweinfurt largely parallel to the Main (but without following its loops), as does the 
between Lichtenfels and Bamberg, the 
between Schweinfurt / Werneck and Marktbreit as well as the 
between Kitzingen / Schwarzach and Raunheim. - Federal roads that follow the course of the Main are the B 289 between Kulmbach and Lichtenfels, the B 26 between Bamberg and Lohr (with interruptions), the B 13 between Ochsenfurt and Würzburg, the B 27 between Würzburg and Karlstadt, the B 469 between Miltenberg and Aschaffenburg, the B 8 between Aschaffenburg and Frankfurt and the B 43 between Hanau and Mainz-Kostheim.
By bicycle
The Main cycle path follows the course of the river along its entire length, starting with the cycle paths at the source rivers Rotmain cycle path or Weißmain cycle path.
course
Course in the downstream direction (from east to west)
Source rivers and upper reaches
- The 1 Source of the White Main at the foot of the ox head Bischofsgrün in the Fichtel Mountains
- 1 Bischofsgrün - in the Fichtel Mountains
- 2 Bad Berneck - in the Fichtel Mountains
- 3 Sky crown - with the Baille-Maille-Lindenallee
- 4 Trebgast - Trebgast natural stage and bathing lake.
- 5 Ködnitz - with the village school museum
- 6 Harsdorf - in the valley of the Trebgast, a tributary of the White Main.
- The 2 Source of the Red Main of the Red Main Cussen in the Northern Franconian Switzerland
- 7 Cussen - near the source
- 8 Emtmannsberg - with the Bartholomäuskirche
- 9 Bayreuth - the city of Richard Wagner, with the 3 Park of the State Horticultural Show 2016 in the Rotmainauen
- 10 Heinersreuth - in the floodplains of the Red Main
- 11 Neudrossenfeld - with castle and historical terrace garden.
The source of the Red Main
The Weißmain spring at the foot of the Ochsenkopf
The bridge at the Mainz confluence
- 12 Kulmbach - Bierstadt with the famous Plassenburg, which houses a tin figure museum; worth seeing old town; at the confluence of the Red and White Main.
- 4 Mainz confluence
Upper Mainland
- 13 Mainleus - market place; near the Patersberg (526 m).
- 14 Burgkunstadt - the market town of Burgkunstadt with the German Shoemaker Museum and the district Gardens red
- 15 Altenkunstadt - the place is at the foot of the Kordigast south of the Main
- 16 Hochstadt am Main - with the Church of the Assumption
- Marketers - at the 5 Confluence of the Rodach and Main rivers .
- 17 Michelau in Upper Franconia - Basket maker museum.
- 18 Lichtenfels - railway junction; Old town with city palace.
- 1 Lichtenfels raft trips - Two and a half hour raft rides on the Main with freshly tapped draft beer in stone mugs, an accordion musician provides the atmosphere, and there is a hearty snack
Raft on the Main near Lichtenfels
The Main near Schwürbitz an OT from Michelau with Mainradweg bridge
- 19 Bad Staffelstein - 50 ° C warm, strongest brine in Bavaria; Birth town of Adam Riese.
- 20 Ebensfeld - in the garden of God
- 21 Zapfendorf - with baroque buildings
- 22 Rattelsdorf - with its half-timbered houses
- 2 Boat rental Obere Mühle - Rental of kayaks and canoes with transport service for paddling tours on the Main and Itz
- 23 Breitengüßbach - with its quarry ponds
- 24 Kemmern - between the Coburg country and the Hassbergen
- 25 Hallstadt - at the gates of Bamberg
- The historical one 6 City center of Bamberg is a World Heritage Site by UNESCO
Continue to the main triangle
The Main-Danube Canal starts with the 7 Junction from the Main near Bischberg before Bamberg
- 26 Bischberg at the confluence of the Regnitz and Main at the foot of the Steigerwald
- 12 Guest harbor Motor- und Segelbootclub Coburg, On land: Industriestraße 14, 96120 Bischberg; On the water: between the Bamberg and Viereth locks, upstream to the Viereth locks to starboard. Main-Danube Canal location 7.42, Main km 380.699). Tel.: 49 170 6248977. Price: Per day with electricity and water (no drinking water): up to 7 m boat length € 10, 7-10 m € 15, over 10 m € 20.
- 13 Marina Trosdorf, Wasserwörth 3, 96120 Bischberg. Tel.: 49 9503 7114. The marina and campsite can accommodate 70 caravans and 60 pleasure boats. Short-term vacationers are only accepted after prior telephone appointment.Open: Mon - Sun 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.
- 27 Viereth-Trunstadt - Viereth barrage with power station and tow lock from 1924-26
- 28 Ebelsbach - Wine place on the edge of the Hatred Mountains and has two beautiful castles
- Vineyards on the 8 Abt-Degen-Steig with the vintner's staircase in the Pfaffenberg nature reserve between Steinbach and Zeil am Main
- 29 Zeil am Main - with the pilgrimage church "Zeiler Käppele" on the Kapellenberg
According to the vernacular, you stand with you to Zeil am Main the Baa in the Maa, and from Zeil with the Bee in the sea.
- 30 Knetzgau - on the northern edge of the Steigerwaldes
- 31 Hassfurt - with the 9 Historic Main Mill, built in 1430. Here, the Main has been dammed by a weir since 1430 in order to bring enough power to the mill wheels even when the water level is low. In the 16th century the mill was expanded and grinded with 8 gears. In 1840, the grinding operation was stopped to facilitate river navigation. The renovated building has been used by the Volksbildungswerk for adult education since 2000.
Main triangle
- 32 Mainberg - with the picturesquely situated above the Main 10 Mainberg Castle
- 33 Schweinfurt - Ball bearing industry, Georg Schäfer Museum, Kunsthalle
- 14 Main ferry at Wipfeld
- 15 Main ferry at Obereisenheim
- 16 Main ferry at Fahr am Main, Fishing and winemaking village; the ferry is mentioned in a document as early as 1400
Main ferry at Wipfeld, in the background St. Ludwig's monastery
Main ferry at Obereisenheim, in the background Gasthof zum Schiff
Main ferry at Fahr am Main
- 34 Schwarzach am Main - with the Münsterschwarzach Abbey , today one of the most important Benedictine monasteries in Germany;
- 35 Volkach - with Riemenschneider's famous "Madonna in the Vineyard";
- 11 Main loop
- 36 Nordheim am Main - The largest wine-growing community in Franconia in terms of area.
- 17 Main ferry between Escherndorf and Nordheim am Main
- 37 Escherndorf - Nationally known wine-growing village with the Escherndorfer Lump vineyard.
- 38 Dettelbach '- historic town center and muscats
- 18 Ferry Dettelbach - Mainsondheim. Tel.: 49 171 9792296. Open: Summer timetable: Mo-Fr 6.30am - 12pm and 1pm - 7pm, Sa 7.30am - 12pm and 1pm - 6pm, on Sundays and public holidays from March 1st to October 31st 10am - 12pm and 1pm - 6pm; Winter timetable: Mon-Fri 6.30 a.m. - 12.00 p.m. and 1.00 p.m. - 7.00 p.m., Sat 7.30 a.m. - 12.00 p.m. and 1.00 p.m. - 6.00 p.m., no ferry service on Sundays and public holidays from November 1st to February 28th.Price: pedestrian / cyclist € 0.80, car / motorcycle € 1.70.
- 39 Kitzingen - historical wine trading town
- 40 Market wide - historical city center with painter's corner and main gate
- 41 Ochsenfurt - Wine and beer city
- 19 The mermaid (Ochsenfurt old town ferry) (below the Main Bridge in Ochsenfurt). Tel.: 49(0)9331 98 45 200. Open: from May to October daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- 42 Sommerhausen - Market and wine village
- 43 Randersacker - Market, premium wine location
- 44 Wurzburg - Bishop's seat, residence, in the midst of vineyards, overlooked by the Marienberg fortress; with the old Main Bridge ("Marienbrücke"), probably completed around 1488
Würzburg: Old Main Bridge
Marienberg Fortress and the old Main Bridge
- 1 Old Main Mill - The restaurant runs a wine bar, which is open from morning to night, right on the Alte Mainbrücke: Stand on the bridge with a glass of Franconian wine and watch the water
- 45 Veitshochheim - Castle with rococo garden, formerly the summer residence of the prince-bishops of Würzburg.
- 46 Karlstadt - Karlsburg ruin
- 47 Gemünden am Main - Three rivers city
Main square
- 48 Lohr am Main
- 49 Hafenlohr]
Marktheidenfeld
Wertheim, on the right Kreuzwertheim, in the middle of the picture the Tauber flows into the Main
- 50 Triefenstein - Market on the Main with the wine towns of Homburg and Lengfurt
- 51 Wertheim ' - in Tauberfranken in Baden-Wuerttemberg
- 52 Freudenberg
- 53 Miltenberg - a much-visited half-timbered gem between Spessart and Odenwald
- 12 Franciscan monastery Engelberg
- 54 Klingenberg - red wine city;
- 55 Woerth am Main - historic old town and maritime museum
- 56 Sulzbach am Main - market
- 57 Aschaffenburg - the "Gate to the Spessart" with Johannisburg Castle
Lower Main
- 58 Seligenstadt - with small alleys, picturesque corners and colorful half-timbered houses
- 20 Main ferry "City Seligenstadt". Tel.: 49 6182 87-410. Open: daily 6:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., Sundays and public holidays from 9:00 a.m.Price: € 0.80, € 1 bike, € 3 car.
- 59 Hanau - the birthplace of the Brothers Grimm, with the historic Marienkirche
- 60 Main valley
- 61 Offenbach - with the German Leather Museum
- 62 Frankfurt - the city of banks, but also of art and culture
- The 21 Main ferry Höchst between Höchst and Schwanheim in Frankfurt am Main, it only transports people and cyclists;
- 63 Kelsterbach
- 64 Flörsheim am Main
- 65 Rüsselsheim am Main - Opel headquarters
- The 66 Rhine between Ginsheim-Gustavsburg and Mainz-Kostheim
In the vicinity of the mouth of the Main are:
- Mainz - the capital of Rhineland-Palatinate on the Rhine.
- Wiesbaden - the state capital of Hesse with the district Mainz-Kostheim.
security
Go on
From the mouth you can continue on Rhine along into Middle Rhine Valley to travel.
literature
- ; Binding Günther, Riepertinger Rainhard (Ed.): Main and sea, portrait of a river. Catalog for the state exhibition from May 9th to October 13th 2013 in the Kunsthalle Schweinfurt. Primus Verlag, 2013, ISBN 9783863120535 ; 320 pages. 29.90 €
- : The Main from Mainz to Bamberg. Rheinschiffahrt publishing house, 2008 (5th edition), Guide for pleasure boating, ISBN 3924823189 ; 132 pages. approx. € 24.80
