As part of the Hessian long-distance cycle route R3, the route of the former Milseburg Railway was expanded into a cycle track with a fine asphalt surface at great expense. From Götzenhof at Fulda to Hilders in the Hochrhön you can now cycle 27 km completely away from traffic. The traffic-free route is ideal for families as well as for inline skaters. The highlight of the route is certainly the 1187 m long Milseburg tunnelthat of Mid-April to the end of October can be driven through. The structure is Germany's second longest bicycle tunnel. For nature conservation reasons (winter quarters for bats) the tunnel is closed in the cold season. A tunnel diversion for the winter half-year is signposted.
Route profile
- Length: 27 km; additional mountainous bike ride from Fulda main station: 4.7 km one way
- Signposting: Exemplary cycle route signage, in addition to the route-related FGSV signage ("ADFC norm"), places of interest in the area of the route were also signposted with brown signs.
- Slopes: The bike path itself runs on a former railway line with a maximum gradient of 3.5%. Anyone who drives from the main train station in Fulda to the entrance has to master an incline of around 75 meters. On a length of 105 meters there is a short 11% incline towards you.
- Path condition: very good asphalt surface. The path is 2.5 m wide.
- Traffic load: completely traffic-free
- Suitable bike: A 3-speed bicycle is sufficient for the railway line
- Family suitability: The traffic-free railway cycle path is very suitable for families.
- Inline suitability: Is given on the railway line. The 5 km of the R3 to the railway line are, however Not suitable for inline. It is best to use public transport here, or drive directly to the parking lot at the start of the route.
background
The Biebertalbahn Götzenhof – Wüstensachsen was built to transport lignite from Melperts and basalt from Seiferts. It drove from 1889 to September 1986. Freight traffic was in operation until 1992. The tracks were dismantled in November 1995.
In 2003, the Milseburgradweg was built on the railway line from Götzenhof to Hilders.
The Milseburg is by the way a mountain and not a historical festival.
getting there
Public transportation
- Arrival by train: By train to Fulda main station.
- Rhön bike bus: The leisure bus line with free bike transport runs from May 1st to October 3rd on Sundays and public holidays along the Milseburgradweg. The route runs parallel to the cycle route from Fulda Hilders beyond to Wasserkuppe and then downwards after Gersfeld. There is a connection to the Rhön Railway to Fulda.
- - Infos of the RMV: Route map, Timetable 2011
- - for more information see also: www.lng-fulda.de
By bicycle
- From the Rhine-Main area: Hess. Long-distance cycle route R3: Rhine - Main - Kinzig
- BahnRadweg Hessen
- From the Werra or the Main: Rhön cycle path (to the eastern route entry at Hilders)
- From the direction of Kassel: Hess. Long-distance cycle route R1: Fulda cycle route
- from the direction of Bad Hersfeld: Haunetal cycle path
In the street
At the start of the route near Fulda-Götzenhof there is at 50 ° 34 '40 "N.9 ° 43 '6 "E a spacious, free car parking space. There is even a bus turning loop. Approach nationwide via the nearby Autobahn A 7, exit Fulda-Nord (No. 91).
Route description with sights
- Fulda - The city with its lively city center is the starting point for those arriving by train for a bike tour along the Milseburgradweg. If you don't know Fulda yet, you should definitely plan time for a detour to the baroque city center to the cathedral and castle.
- If you still need drinks or food, you can make a short detour from the R 3 to the Lehnerz district on the way to the route Norma supermarket insert (to be found at 50 ° 34 ′ 31 ″ N.9 ° 42 ′ 3 ″ E).
- Alternatively, there are opportunities to stop off along the route.
- → From Fulda main station, follow the signs for the Hessian long-distance cycle path R3 to the start of the railway cycle path at Petersberg-Götzenhof (approx. 5 km with some steep climbs).
- Parking lot at the beginning of the Milseburgradweg - spacious parking lot. As a sanitary facility, there is at least one mobile sanitary cubicle. An information board also presents the route. The refuge with automatic hose machine for bicycle hoses rounds off the equipment (hose € 5, insert of coins).
- The Milseburgradweg adventure begins right behind the parking lot with an attractive item on the program: the panoramic view of the Hochrhön Milseburg and Wasserkuppe. Until you reach the high Rhön, you have to pedal a bit from here.
- ~
~> From the parking lot, the route initially leads slightly downhill through green meadows, fields and past nice villages. On the way you can always see the slowly approaching Milseburg or Hochrhön. As a landmark, the Bieberstein Castle is often in view.
~> From the parking lot, the route initially leads slightly downhill through green meadows, fields and past nice villages. On the way you can always see the slowly approaching Milseburg or Hochrhön. As a landmark, the Bieberstein Castle is often in view.- → Connection to the Haunetal cycle path in Almendorf direction Hünfeld.
- ~ ~> To the former Langenbieber train station (Beer garden) it is only slightly uphill. Behind Langenbieber it gets steeper (but only a maximum of 4% gradient).
- You cycle past the Bieberstein outdoor pool with a direct view of the castle in two long loops uphill towards the west portal of the tunnel. Bieberstein Castle can cannot be visited. The building now houses a high school boarding school. On the way you come to a "Panoramarastplatz" (see picture below) and the former Bieberstein stop (refuge).
- ~ ~> At the Bieberstein rest area, which is located at the former stop, the route plunges into the shady forest.
- Now the route leads south past Elters and on to the Milseburg tunnel. Near Elters you can already clearly see that the Milseburgradweg has increased in altitude. There are first small distant views to the west (e.g. to the Crunch). If you want to enjoy a real panorama of the Rhön, you should take the exhausting but really worthwhile detour to Milsburg after driving through the tunnel (see below).
- Milseburg tunnel - The Milseburg tunnel is closed from the end of October to mid-April each year to protect bats. There is, however, a signposted bypass, which, however, has a very demanding elevation profile (an additional 125 meters in altitude). This leads over in the west driveway steep gravel roads (with a gradient of up to 14 percent; see also Photo documentation bypass Milseburg Tunnel).
- → Optional: Sporty detour to Milseburg - The mountain is off the track. But it is a beautiful vantage point that can be reached via the tunnel bypass. To do this, drive through the tunnel coming from Fulda and drive from the former Milseburg train station (at 548 m above sea level) over asphalt stretches via Oberbernhards to the car park at around 650 m above sea level. These 120 to 130 meters of altitude are particularly good for the calves with luggage on a 10 to 12% incline over longer distances. The ascent to the summit of the path is closed to cyclists. It makes no sense to continue driving anyway, as the path is very steep and rocky. Ideally, the bikes in the area of the hiking car park: at 50 ° 33 '7 "N.9 ° 53 '48 "E connect. The walking time from the car park is around 30 - 45 minutes one way. As a mountain bike enthusiast, please respect the driving ban on the summit path, as there are many hikers on the way.
- ~ ~> After the tunnel it goes downhill via Steinbach and Rupsroth. Before Eckweißbach, a short section of the old route has not been developed. The bike path runs right next to the former railway line on a well-paved path. At Aura, the Milseburgradweg meets the Ulstertalradweg (resting place at the branch; however, there is no refuge). After a long curve, follow the course of the Ulster to the former Hilders train station. A "bicycle monument" marks the end of the route.
- Hilders - end point of the route; Connection to the Rhön cycle path or. Ulstertal cycle path.
Other places to stay
- Tann (Rhön) - pretty Rhön town; is about 10 km down Ulster from the end of the cycle path.
- Petersberg near Fulda
- Hofbieber a little north of the route
security
In the past, the safety of the entire cycle path left a lot to be desired: Several serious accidents, especially at the post barriers, overshadow the otherwise good design of the cycle path. The posts, which were supposed to prevent cars and tractors from using the bike path, were very easy to miss. Therefore, after a short time, markings were added in front of the posts, but these were often overlooked. As the number of accidents did not decrease, some of the post barriers were removed first and, several years later, all of the remaining ones. In 2011 all posts and markings were removed.
However, at the road crossings there were still plenty of tightly standing jostling bars (also known as circulation barriers). The tracks bypassing these barriers showed that the design was not optimal. Especially with bicycle trailers, tandems and wheelchairs, the barriers could only be driven through with difficulty. Inexperienced cyclists in particular often fell. Especially with panniers it was easy to get stuck on the bars. When there was heavy cyclist traffic, the crossing of the road could be obstructed because a backwater forms on the jostling bars. For these reasons, before the start of the 2020 summer season, all of the crowding grids were dismantled. Instead, the crossings were equipped with right of way or stop signs and these were also painted on the way.
The Milseburg tunnel itself is exemplary secured. The tunnel section is under video surveillance. There are also telephones with a dedicated line to the police in Hilders. All side niches in the tunnel have been walled up so that nobody can hide here.
trips
- Hess. Long-distance cycle route R3: Rhine - Main - Kinzig Direction of the Rhine-Main area
- Rhön cycle path or. Ulstertal cycle path Direction Werra or Main
- Hess. Long-distance cycle route R1: Fulda cycle route Direction Kassel
- Haunetal cycle path - Direction Marbach and Haunesee or Haunequelle
References to literature and maps
- detailed route map as PDF file
- interactive OpenStrettMap map with bike path
- Route of the Milseburgweg in the Hesse cycle route planner - The tunnel area is displayed incorrectly in the height profile
- ADFC regional map "Rhön" 1: 75000, ISBN 3-87073-222-9 (5th edition from March 2010), € 6.80; see more Bielefelder Verlag
See also
Do you feel like cycling more along the railway lines? Other rail bike paths are listed here.
Web links
- official website of the Milseburgradweg
- Railway cycle paths - Karl Schlemmer's private page with picture description of the route, tunnel bypass, GPS track download
- Milseburgradweg on Bahnrassenradeln.de - Achim Bartoschek's private railway cycle path archive
