From vineyards to the Main River — Franconian Red Wine Trail

days

1-4 h

/ day

49.8 mi

4,375 ft

4,275 ft

The Churfranken region stands for award-winning wines, magnificent views of the Main River and romantic towns between Spessart and Odenwald. One of the best-known local wine varieties is the fine Pinot Noir, which thrives on the iron-rich red sandstone soils here. But Merlot, Zweigelt and Riesling also grow on the region’s sunny terraces. You can taste these and other fine wines in countless wine bars, inns and taverns.

Since 1990, Germany’s Franconian Red Wine Trail has connected the various vineyards in Churfranken over a total of 80 kilometres (50 mi). The six stages are laid out in such a way that there’s plenty of time to enjoy, taste and experience the wine in addition to hiking. You can visit the fascinating wine museum in Klingenberg or the Churfrankenvinothek in Bürgstadt. There are also opportunities to explore historical sites such as the Clingenburg ruins or the Engelberg and Himmelthal monasteries. You can find picturesque village centres with beautiful, half-timbered houses and churches along the Franconian Red Wine Trail too, as well as small chapels and cosy resting places.

The trail runs along particularly beautiful routes from Großwallstadt to Bürgstadt. You can reach the starting point at the Sporthotel Großwallstadt either by bus from Aschaffenburg or Obernburg-Elsenfeld, or alternatively from Kleinwallstadt railway station. The tobacco hall in Bürgstadt is the destination of the long-distance trail and there’s a bus stop there. In nearby Miltenberg, you can hop on a train to numerous destinations.

Enjoyment is the aim on the Franconian Red Wine Trail. That's why the six stages are easy to walk and end in towns with a good selection of places to stop for refreshments and overnight stays. Even if you’re not a wine drinker, the beautiful landscape along the Main makes this hiking trail absolutely worthwhile.

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Franconian Red Wine Trail

47.0 mi

3,750 ft

3,650 ft

Last updated: May 31, 2023

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Tours & Highlights

Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors
Stage 1: Großwallstadt to Großostheim — Franconian Red Wine Trail
04:22
10.3 mi
2.4 mph
525 ft
450 ft
Intermediate
Intermediate Hiking Tour. Good fitness required. Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required.
The official starting point of the Franconian Red Wine Trail is in front of the Sporthotel Großwallstadt. Alternatively, you can also start at Kleinwallstadt train station. You first walk through the busy center of Großwallstadt to the left bank of the Main. A flat path leads you along the water to the…
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Stage 2: Großostheim to Elsenfeld — Franconian Red Wine Trail
04:56
10.9 mi
2.2 mph
1,175 ft
1,250 ft
Intermediate
Intermediate Hiking Tour. Good fitness required. Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required.
The second stage is characterized by constant ups and downs through hilly Lower Franconia. At the beginning you leave the Großostheim market square in a southerly direction and hike back to the Reischklinge vineyard, which you have already crossed on the first stage. From there you climb up the wooded…
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Stage 3: Elsenfeld to Erlenbach — Franconian Red Wine Trail
04:08
9.29 mi
2.3 mph
850 ft
825 ft
Intermediate
Intermediate Hiking Tour. Good fitness required. Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required.
The third stage of the Franconian Red Wine Trail starts in Elsenfeld. Leave the center in an easterly direction to get to the "Robert Hofmann Blick" refuge, where you turn right. Passing the Schützenhaus Diana, you change from asphalt to loose ground. The path leads you gently uphill along the edge of…
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Stage 4: Erlenbach to Klingenberg — Franconian Red Wine Trail
01:15
2.59 mi
2.1 mph
400 ft
425 ft
Easy
Easy hike. Great for any fitness level. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.
The fourth stage is particularly relaxed at only four kilometers - so you can either sleep in extra late or take enough time to explore the stage destination Klingenberg. From St.-Maurice-Platz in Erlenbach you can go out of town to the mountain swimming pool. If you are not quite awake yet, you have…
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Stage 5: Klingenberg to Großheubach — Franconian Red Wine Trail
02:55
6.69 mi
2.3 mph
500 ft
500 ft
Intermediate
Intermediate Hiking Tour. Good fitness required. Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required.
The fifth stage of the Franconian Red Wine Trail begins in Klingenberg. If you haven't visited the interesting viniculture and local history museum the day before, I recommend a detour there. Otherwise it goes on the Johannesweg out of town and thus back into the beautiful vineyards.

Then you walk through…
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Stage 6: Großheubach to Bürgstadt — Franconian Red Wine Trail
04:30
10.1 mi
2.2 mph
925 ft
850 ft
Intermediate
Intermediate Hiking Tour. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.
At the beginning of the sixth and last stage, you leave Großheubach and hike to the Engelsstaffeln - 612 steps that lead up to the Engelberg monastery. The Franconian red wine trail passes below, but you cannot miss the magnificent monastery and the view from above.

Surrounded by vines, you then hike…
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