The Rhönradweg leads from bad Salzungen over the watershed of the mountains to Hammelburg to the Franconian Saale. The varied cycle route crosses the Rhön in north-south direction.
Route profile
- Length: 180 km
- Signposting: The route is signposted with large intermediate signposts. Main signposts, however, are largely missing. The quality of the signs is sufficient.
- Slopes: In the Hochrhön area there are several longer gradients, some in the 10% range.
- Path condition: mostly well developed (asphalt roads; or at least satisfactory gravel roads)
- Traffic load: often traffic-free outside of town; however, some rural roads outside of built-up areas are also used. In urban areas, calm speed limits of 30 are mostly used.
- Suitable bike: Touring bike or mountain bike with tread tires and gearshift suitable for mountain use
- Family suitability: The route is only suitable for families with older children from 10 to 12 years of age. The offspring should be able to brake safely and be able to cope with traffic well on their own.
- Inline suitability: In the area of the Brendtal cycle path (section Bischofsheim on the Rhön - Bad Neustadt) given. The section from the Ulsterbrücke near Räsa / Pferdsdorf to the former Thuringia-Hesse border (Ulstersack) on the Ulstertalbahn railway line is easy to drive, as is the Wenigentaft - Geisa line. Also well suited: Schleid - Tann, mostly old railway lines.
background
The Rhönradweg is not an independent cycle path. Rather, existing bike paths are like the Werratal cycle path (Section Bad Salzungen - Philippsthal) and the Ulstertal cycle path (section Philippsthal - Wüstensachsen - "Lange Rhön") used.
Only the signage and a few short, newly developed cycle path sections, for example Batten - Thaiden, are essentially new. Since the old Ulstertalbahn line is left after Hilders, a difficult up and down begins here, while the main road runs in the Ulster valley.
The ascent (pushing!) Through the "Lange Rhön" begins south of Wüstensachsen. The route is not paved and leads up gravel and forest paths through the Kesselrain biosphere reserve. A shuttle bus (after ordering by phone) should make this exhausting section passable for less trained people (?).
Later there are sections along the Brend and the Franconian Saale (Franconian Saale cycle path).
preparation
getting there
Public transportation
By bicycle
In bad Salzungen:
- from the east: Werra cycle path
In Philippsthal (Werra):
- from the north: Werra cycle path
- West: Hess. Long-distance cycle route R7: From the Werra to the Lahn, Solztal cycle path (former railway line from Bad Hersfeld)
In a little:
- Kegelspielradweg (former railway line from Bad Hünfeld)
In Hilders:
- Milseburgradweg and Hess. Long-distance cycle route R3: Rhine - Main - Kinzig (former railway line from Fulda)
Route description with sights
Corner points of the route
The Rhön cycle path begins in the attractive health resort bad Salzungen in the Thuringian Werra Valley. Behind Vacha (227 m) the route branches off into the Ulstertal. Details are in Ulstertal cycle path described Geisa, Fir (beautiful old town) and Hilders (430 m) reaches the mostly paved route Ehrenberg (Rhoen) in the upper Ulstertal. In the upper course the valley path is down Hilders however quite hilly.
Above Wüstensachsen (municipality of Ehrenberg) one of the longest ascent of the entire cycle path awaits. Over a length of 3 km, 250 meters in altitude are conquered to the "long Rhön". Long gravel sections can be found in the incline area (in the forest area). Behind the branch to the Hess. Long-distance cycle path R 1a (Fulda cycle path) has been reached 835 meters above sea level on the approach to Hochrhönstraße.
- Small detour: Ulsterquelle, Rotes Moor and Heidelstein - From the driveway to Hochrhönstrasse, turn right into the gravel forest path to Ulsterquelle (signs for the Hess. Radfernweg R 1). From the Ulster spring the R1 leads to the red moor. In the ecologically operated "House on the Red Moor" you can strengthen yourself after the strenuous ascent. A tour of the Red Moores (Moor path, observation tower) should not be missed. Back it is advisable to return to the route via the Heidelstein. You just have to keep straight ahead in the forest from the house on the Roten Moor. However, you have to push a steep, bumpy part of the path (about 400 m with 50 meters of altitude). But it's worth it: on the 926 m high Heidelstein one becomes with one great view away from the big tourist crowds. From the summit of Heidelstein you can then return to the Rhön cycle path after 1.5 km via the asphalt driveway to the transmission tower. Alternatively, you can take a shortcut from the red moor and drive off directly to Bischofsheim (partly by road).
- Detour to Wasserkuppe: From the Red Moor up to the Wasserkuppe it is less than 150 m altitude. In contrast to the incline from Ehrenberg to the Roten Moor, the ascent to the Wasserkuppe is then relatively easy (although the road is sometimes very busy). The highest mountain in the range attracts many visitors. This is no wonder, because there is a lot to discover - not to mention the beautiful panorama of the summit.
From the main ridge of the Rhön you rush down 10 km after crossing the Hochrhönstraße Oberelsbach (401 m, information center house of the long Rhön). From here it goes several times up to 50 meters in altitude and down to 10 km away
- Bischofsheim on the Rhön. For "mountain goats" there is a detour to the 928 m high Kreuzberg with a monastery and a monastery brewery. over
- Schönau an der Brend (314 m) is on the Brendttalradweg (Railway cycle path next to federal road)
- Bad Neustadt on the Saale with its worth seeing city fortifications and the Salzburg reached. After the spa town that is well worth seeing Bad Kissingen one comes in
- Hammelburg at, the end point of the Rhönradweg. Here the climate is again so mild that wine is grown.
It is advisable to follow the course of the Franconian Saale to Gemünden am Main to follow. There are good rail connections here. Of course, the tour can also take place on the Main cycle path be continued.
Route in stages
If you feel like it, you are welcome to prepare a detailed route description with stages.
trips
- Franconian Saale cycle path
- in Gemünden Connection to the Main cycle path
References to literature and maps
- ADFC regional map "Rhön" 1:75000, ISBN 3-87073-222-9 Attention: In the current 2nd edition from 2004, the route has not yet been entered with the route logo, but the route largely contains the map. - see also Bielefelder Verlag
- Cycling guide "Fulda-Werra-Rhön" , ISBN 978-3980962919 , Special price € 6.90, 400 km long round tour Werratal Cycle Path - Rhön Cycle Path - Fulda Cycle Path · For more see Harald Wittenbrock Verlag
Web links
- Railway cycle paths Image description of the route, GPS track download
- Route
- Hesse cycle route planner - official website of the state of Hesse. The route is in the menu on the left below "Themed routes" to find.
