Spessart Hills Trail 2: over hill and dale to the river Main

This strenuous trail rewards walkers' efforts with stunning vistas and cultural gems.

The Spessart hills make up one of Germany's largest single expanses of forest. From north to south, the Spessart Hills Trail 2 crosses the Bavarian Spessart nature reserve. Starting in the climatic health resort of Heigenbrücken in the Upper Spessart, it leads through unspoilt hills and valleys as it heads south towards the river Main. You'll pass spectacular vantage points and romantic valleys en route to Waldaschaff before reaching the peaks above Mespelbrunn-Hessenthal. The pilgrimage church in Hessenthal is home to an art lovers' gem – the Lamentation of Christ (1490) by Tilman Riemenschneider. From here, it is also worth making a detour (around 2.7km) to the famous Mespelbrunn moated castle. Other breathtaking views await as you continue along the trail: from Leidersbach-Volkersbrunn a far-reaching vista of the Main valley with the Odenwald forest in the distance, and from Geisshöhe hill a mesmerising panorama across a sea of wooded peaks as far as the Taunus hills. From idyllic Lake Wildensee you reach Stadtprozelten on the Main river. Henneburg Castle, one of the loveliest castle ruins in Germany, sits in splendour above the town.

Tip

Gothic pilgrimage church, Mespelbrunn-Hessenthal
The oldest building in Hessenthal's fortified church complex is the Gothic pilgrimage church, which was built in 1439 as the burial church for the Echter von Mespelbrunn dynasty. The new church contains the Crucifixion Group by Hans Backoffen (1519) and the Lamentation of Christ by Tilman Riemenschneider (1485).

At a glance

• Starts: Heigenbrücken
• Ends: Stadtprozelten
• Length: 54km
• Number of stages: 4
• Altitude variation (approximate values): Ascent 3,100m, descent 3,200m
• Terrain: 44% unmade, 10% asphalt, 46% other, e.g. gravel