First-class cycling along the river Main: River Main Cycle Route

Germany's first ADFC premium route to be given five stars boasts exemplary signposting, outstanding scenery and an abundance of cyclist-oriented accommodation, from the headwaters of the Main to where the river pours into the Rhine.

The river Main begins in two places and so does this tour: you can start either with the Red Main in the Franconian Switzerland region or follow the White Main through the Franconian Forest. The route then runs through the area known as 'God's Garden' in the Upper Main Valley-Coburg region to Bamberg and its Old Town, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Winding its way through the Steigerwald forest and Hassberg hills to Schweinfurt, the river then enters Franconian wine country and the Liebliches Taubertal holiday region. The tour continues through Frankfurt and ends in Mainz, where the Main flows into the Rhine. Terrain: mostly traffic-free on well-maintained, mainly asphalt paths through primarily flat countryside. This cycle route rates highly in all criteria and is extremely well suited to cycle tours with children. Scenery: along the twists and turns of the river Main to its lower reaches in Hessen, the route passes through varied landscapes (Fichtelgebirge mountains, Franconian Forest, Upper Main Valley-Coburg region, Steigerwald Forest, Hassberg hills, Franconian wine country, Liebliches Taubertal region, Spessart-Main region). Woodland and meadows alternate with vineyards as the dominating feature of the scenery.

• Length: 600 kilometres
• Starts: Bischofsgrün (source of the White Main) or Creussen (source of the Red Main)
• Ends: Mainz
• Route info: mainly flat terrain, easily managed with children, majority of route suitable for trailers