Volcano cycle path - Vulkanradweg

The volcano cycle path is Hesse's longest Railway cycle path. Start is in Altenstadt in the Hessian Wetterau. From there it goes over the Vogelsberg and ultimately into Fulda valley. He is accompanied by bicycle buses on weekends. The Vulkan Cycle Path is completely part of the network of railway lines BahnRadweg Hessen, which connects Main and Fulda in this region.

Volcano cycle path near Rixfeld

Route profile

Logo of the volcano cycle path
  • Length: 94 km
  • Signposting: Signposted with standardized FGSV signage ("ADFC standard" with integrated route logo)
  • Slopes: moderate on the railway line sections (approx. 60 km). In between there are quite a few hills to overcome. The highest point is at 580 m above sea level, the lowest at 122 m.
  • Path condition: paved throughout
  • Traffic load: largely free of traffic; roads have to be used in some local areas. Some sections run alongside federal highways.
  • Suitable bike: Racing bike, touring bike or city bike with 7 gears
  • Family suitability: very good family route
  • Inline suitability: ideal inline route, except for a few problem points in local areas: In Ober-Seemen above Gedern, the cycle path leads through up to 10% steep residential streets, as a sawmill has to be bypassed.

background

That gives the name volcano Vogelsberg, the largest volcano in Europe, which has not been active for 7 million years.

Most of the volcano cycle path follows the route of the former Oberwaldbahn, which runs from Lauterbach above the mountain height of the Vogelsberg until the Wetterau led. After the closure, the railway line from Glauburg-Stockheim via Lauterbach was extended to slot expanded with fine asphalt to form a volcano cycle path. In addition, the route of the Bad Salzschlirf – Niederjossa railway line used. The regional train accompanies the cycle path between Lauterbach and Bad Salzschlirf as well as Altenstadt and Glauburg.

Frischborn stop

This also gives you a good insight into the character of the routeDocumentation from YouTube. The film (8:44 min) describes the route with its sights from Lauterbach to Glauburg in the Wetterau.

getting there

Public transportation

In the summer half-year from May 1st to the end of October there is an exemplary network of leisure bus routes with bike transport on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays. The Vogelsberger Vulkan-Express lines meet in a star shape on the Hoherodskopf. One of the lines runs along the entire Vulkanradweg between Schlitz and Stockheim (line VB-90) For more information see: RMV - Vogelsberger Vulkan-Expressor Vgo.de

The route network at a glance:

  • to water - Mücke Flensungen - Lauterbach - Fulda: Regional train 35:
    • VB-90: slot - Lauterbach - Herbstein - Hartmannshain - Gedern - Stockheim (along the volcano cycle path)
    • VB-91: Lauterbach - Herbstein - Hoherodskopf (from Lauterbach to Hochwaldhausen along the volcano cycle path)
    • VB-92: Hungen - Laubach - Grünberg - mosquito - Ulrichstein - (Scots) - Hoherodskopf
  • Friedberg - Nidda: regional train 32:
    • FB-93: Nidda - Schotten - Hoherodskopf (along the Niddaradweg)
  • Bad Vilbel - Stockheim bei Glauburg: Regional train 34:
    • FB-94: Büdingen / Altenstadt - Stockheim - Gedern - Hoherodskopf (from Altenstadt to Gedern along the volcano cycle path)
    • VB-90: Schlitz - Lauterbach - Herbstein - Hartmannshain - Gedern - Stockheim (along the volcano cycle path)
  • Frankfurt -Wächtersbach - Fulda: Regional-Express and Regionalbahn 50:
    • VB-95: Waechtersbach - Birstein - Hartmannshain - Grebenhain - Hoherodskopf (along the Südbahnradweg)

On the Hoherodskopf, the common stop offers transfer options between the different lines.

During the Hessian summer and autumnvacation You can take your bike with you after registering with VGO Alsfeld on 06331 9633-33 between Lauterbach via Grebenhain to Gedern (line 391) and Gedern to Stockheim (FB-22) Every day possible. · Timetable

On the Hoherodskopfsteig cycle path you can easily descend from the Hoherodskopf on gravel forest paths to the apex of the volcano cycle path at Hartmannshain.

Data status: April 2010

By bicycle

The arrival by bike is easily possible from different directions:

  • Of kassel above Bad Hersfeld on the Hessian long-distance cycle path up the Fulda to Hutzdorf. From here over the Hess. Long-distance cycle route R7A or BahnRadweg Hessen to slot. From here on an old railway line of the Knüllwaldbahn (Bad Hersfeld-Bad Salzschlirf) to Bad Salzschlirf and continue on a well-developed bike path Lauterbach (paved throughout).
  • Of Fulda on the Hess. Long-distance cycle route R2 to the city limits down the Fulda and then via Großenlüder to Bad Salzschlirf or further down the Fulda to Hutzdorf and then the Hess. Long-distance cycle route R7A to Schlitz.
  • Of the Lahn at Cölbe over Kirchhain and Alsfeld on the Hess. Long-distance cycle route R2 to Lauterbach.
  • Of the Lahn in to water above Grünberg and Ulrichstein on the Hess. Long-distance cycle route R7 to Lauterbach.
  • Of Waechtersbach (Railway line Frankfurt - Fulda - Kassel) via the Vogelsberger Südbahnradweg to Hartmannshain: a rather sweaty tour with abundant and short steep inclines to the apex of the former Oberwaldbahn at 575 m above sea level. NN. · See also: BahnRadweg Hessen

In the street

There is a car parking space in Ortenberg directly on the route.

Start on the Main

This section is not part of the volcano cycle path, but is a great addition for those for whom the route is too short or who do not want to do without cycling when coming from the Main.

Hanau is the station of the Hesse railway cycle path, which can be followed comfortably, but over a few hills to Altenstadt.

Route description with sights in south-north direction

Map of the volcano cycle path
Rest area near Ober-Seemen

Altenstadt - Gedern: around 30 km

Total altitude difference Altenstadt - Gedern: 243 m, maximum gradient: 3%, in Gedern: 5%

The regional train runs between Altenstadt and Stockheim, which also has a connection via Bad Vilbel to Frankfurt offers. The downside is the fact that the cycle path does not use a railway line. After all, the route often runs right next to the railway line.

in the Niddertal In Ortenberg there is an Äppelwoi wine press in Niddertalstrasse. 2 (B275 left side). The orchards, where the apples are collected, can be found to the north. The Hessian apple wine and orchard route (cycle route) crosses the volcano cycle path with one of its partial routes in Lißberg.

  • Altenstadt in the Wetterau · km 0 - 122m · train station with restaurant on the route
  • Glauburg-Stockheim · 9.2 km - 130m · From here one can speak of a railway cycle path. The landscape becomes more lonely and wooded.
  • Ortenberg · 14.8 km - 131m · Cozy half-timbered town with a small historic old town and a castle. If you cycle behind the town on the road-accompanying cycle path to the B 275, you will get some additional railroad track, as the railroad track ran along the road. The Vulkanradweg uses a farm road that winds around a large and a small soccer field, among other things.
  • Gedern 29.5 km - 317 m Gederner Castle with museum and gastronomy on the bike path. The Gederner See (located a little off the route) is not a natural lake. It was created in the 18th century by the Stolberg-Wernigerode Princely House, the owners of the former Gedern lordship, as a fishing lake. (Wikipedia)

Gedern - Hartmannshain: around 14 km

At the Panoramarastplatz above Gedern
Vulkanradweg above Gedern: Above the city you have this nice view of the city from a rest area along the way. On the right is a work of art that, according to information on site, was cast from the steel of the sleepers of the former railway line. In the area of ​​the route between Ortenberg and Gedern, similar steles can be found at different locations (large artwork, see the following picture).

Added altitude difference Gedern - Hartmannshain: 290 m, incline up to 3%, for a short time also 6 - 10% (e.g. at the bypass of the sawmill in Gedern).

-> From Gedern the route really gains altitude. In order for the railway to be able to cope with the difference in altitude of almost 300 m to Harmannshain, the route's engineers had decreed two large turns. Taking advantage of the topography, the route continues in an S-shape up to Ober-Seemen at an altitude of around 400 m. In the outer curve you will find a nice resting place with a view of the valley of Gedern (benches and a refuge are available).
  • Ober-Seemen · 35.4 km - 405m · Village above Gedern, here the greatest difference in altitude on the western ramp of the volcano cycle path is behind the cyclist; Info: www.ober-seemen.de. Unfortunately, it is also necessary to bypass an undeveloped section in the area of ​​the old train station / sawmill with inclines / declines and a short drive on the country road (once in a residential street up to 10% incline).
  • Hartmannshain: 43.4 km - 570 m
    • Cycle path cross With Vogelsberger Südbahnradweg Towards Kinzigtal or Hoherodskopfsteig to the highest peaks of the Vogelsberg.
    • Detour to the "observation box" Herchenhainer Höhe: If you want, you can take an "intermediate spurt" from Hartmannshain to the Herchenhainer Höhe (via an approx. 10% steep road). The hill is the southernmost "700 hundred" of the Vogelberg. From the top you have a beautiful panoramic view to the south. The best way to do this is from the car parking lot 50 ° 29 ′ 4 ″ N.9 ° 16 ′ 29 ″ E something over the meadow towards the edge of the forest up to 720 m high. Up here at the entrance to the monument (located in the forest) you will find two benches, each with a table, as well as a photo panorama that explains the wide 180-degree panorama. At the car park there is also a restaurant for refreshments (is a motorcycle meeting point).
Panorama: You can scroll the picture horizontally.
180 degree panoramic view from the Herchenhainer Höhe.
Image: Pano_herchenhainer_hoehe__ds_wv_14_10_2011.jpg
180 degree panoramic view from the Herchenhainer Höhe.

Stage: Hartmannshain - Lauterbach: 31 km

Step stones from the bike path

Total vertical meters: Hartmannhain - Ilbeshausen: 40 m at 13.9 km · Ilbeshausen - Hartmannshain: 165 m

Total meters in altitude: Ilbeshausen - Lauterbach: 54 m at 16.8 km · Lauterbach - Ilbeshausen: 214 m

  • Herbstein · (417m, location: 444m) - spa with a town center that is worth seeing, spa park, seat of several museums.
    The cycle path is a "chicane" for the cyclist: He is allowed to go around a packaging factory on the mountain. You don't see more than this factory and some other trades.
  • Lauterbach (Hesse) · (286m) - Old town with a lot of half-timbered houses, step stones (photo) in the Lauter.

Stage: Lauterbach - Schlitz: 18 km

Total altitude difference Lauterbach - Schlitz: 47 m at 17.9 km · Schlitz - Lauterbach: 110 m · very slightly sloping

  • Bad Salzschlirf - Kurpark and thermal baths. The R2 leads up the mountain to the southeast.
  • slot · (225m) · Half-timbered old town and castle. Alternatively, you can cycle through the castle park. However, you have to find the exit yourself, as there are no signs.

It is another 2.4 km along the Schlitz river to the Fulda cycle path. According to the Hessen cycle route planner, the volcano cycle path now ends at the Fulda [2015]. Until after Queck the bike path continues to follow the same former railway line.

trips

At all of the locations listed below: See also: BahnRadweg Hessen

In slot:

In Lauterbach:

  • Hess. Long-distance cycle route R2: The Four Rivers Tour
  • Hess. Long-distance cycle route R7: From the Werra to the Lahn.

In Stockheim and Glauburg:

In Altenstadt:

GPS data

  • Route profile with GPS data and Google Earth KMZ file in Bike tour wiki

References to literature and maps

  • ADFC regional map "Vogelsberg" M 1: 75000; ISBN 978-3-87073-414-5 , Price: 6.80 €; see also Bielefelder Verlag

See also

Do you feel like cycling more along the railway lines? Other rail bike paths are listed here.

Web links

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