VGN Summer Challenge 2020 – hike with the VGN and win prizes

Dense greenery, countless species of birds and a rushing river - you didn't end up in the Amazon, but in the EU LIFE nature project Mainauen.The Mainauen hiking trail always leads you along the water from Haßfurt to Edelsbach. You walk along old loops of the Main, which in many places spread out to form vast floodplains. From the observation towers on the Sichelsee and on the Hochrheinsee you can enjoy a new perspective of the shimmering bodies of water and their inhabitants. Information about the biodiversity can be found on display boards and we recommend that you take binoculars with you. In the Mainauen nature reserve, natural diversity can develop again undisturbed.From the Haßfurt train station, the route runs through the Main meadows without any significant inclines. Sometimes you hike over open areas, then again through shady floodplain forest and wide reed belts. It goes past the Großer Wörth to the Augsfelder Baggersee, where you cross the Main on a bridge.The path then runs through the wonderful lake landscape near Sand am Main. A worthwhile stop is the Maria Limbach pilgrimage church with its magnificent interiors, before you march on to Eltmann. After you've explored the beautiful old town, it's back to the northern bank of the Main - in Ebelsbach you can comfortably get on the train again and start your journey home.Arrival: The starting point in Haßfurt is on the Nuremberg-Würzburg railway line and is regularly served by several regional trains.Departure: Ebelsbach-Eltmann train station is on the Bamberg-Würzburg line. With a change in Bamberg you can get back to Nuremberg, for example.

Historic places, sun-drenched vineyards and shady mixed forests - the Haßberger Burgen- und Schlösserwanderweg leads you through a hilly and varied natural landscape to mysterious ruins, castles and palaces.From the train station in Zeil am Main, which is known for its colorful half-timbered houses and the beautiful market square, you immediately hike steeply up to the Schmachtenberg castle ruins. The remains of the wall lie enchanted and overgrown in the middle of the vineyards and offer a great view. At the same height, the path continues to the “Zeiler Käppele” - an impressive pilgrimage church on the Kapellenberg, which can be seen from afar.On the Way of the Cross you descend again to Zeil am Main and follow curved paths to the north. Past the elevation of the Hohe Wacht, it goes to the lookout point on the guard hill high above Prappach. Your gaze wanders over the cultural landscape of the Main Valley. After a steady up and down you get to Königsberg in Bavaria. A visit to the castle at the gates of the city is an absolute highlight and is like traveling back in time to the Middle Ages. After a refreshment in the beer garden of the castle, you walk down to the charming old town, which is a listed building as a whole.Arrival: Zeil am Main is on the Bamberg-Haßfurt railway line. With the regional train R15 you get from Bamberg to the starting point at the train station in Zeil am Main, from Nuremberg you take the trains R2 or R25 to Bamberg.Departure: The 1152 bus connects Königsberg with Haßfurt. From there you can easily take the regional trains R2 or R15 towards Bamberg or Nuremberg.

On the Hohenzollern History Walk you will walk in the footsteps of the famous ruling house, which has a very special connection with Franconia: This is where the roots of the dynasty lie and where they ruled as margraves for centuries. The magnificent residences and buildings are as impressive then as they are today.The History Walk starts at the Roßtal-Wegbrücke train station and takes you directly to the historic center: the mighty St. Laurentius Church has shaped the appearance of the Frankenmarkt for 1,000 years and you can discover the Hohenzollern coat of arms on the gallery. From Roßtal it goes on romantic field and forest paths north, where you cross the Bibert and reach Ammerndorf. Discover the beautiful market square with its impressive half-timbered houses and the church of St. Peter and Paul.After eleven kilometers you will reach Cadolzburg and from a distance you will see the “pencil”, the striking observation tower of the market. Climbing the 143 steps is definitely worth it - at the top you can expect an impressive view of the Rangau and Cadolzburg.The cultural highlight of this hike is the Cadolzburg castle complex: the mighty complex, the oldest components of which date from around 1250, was the residence of the Hohenzollern family for centuries. We recommend that you allow enough time to explore the historic rooms, turrets and walls. In Cadolzburg you will find a connection to the railway network, otherwise a detour to nearby Gonnersdorf is worthwhile. There you can taste the delicious specialties in the Franconian farm shop.How to get there: The S5 rapid transit train takes you from Nuremberg to Roßtal-Wegbrücke in less than 20 minutes.Departure: From Cadolzburg train station you can take the regional train to Fürth, where you will find a connection to the underground and S-Bahn network to Nuremberg.

The smell of freshly baked bread is in the air on this wonderful forest and meadow hike. You walk for over 13 kilometers through the fabulous jura landscapes of the Altmühl valley to the traditional Benedictine abbey Plankstetten.In late medieval Greding you walk across the cobbled market square with its colorful houses and can visit the mighty St. Martin's Basilica. Then you leave the city's defensive wall with its 21 towers behind you. You dive into the lovely landscape of the Altmühltal nature park and enjoy the tranquility along the rippling Agbach.Via green meadow paths you reach the plateau of the triangle where the counties of Eichstätt, Neumarkt and Roth meet. From here it goes through rugged rock formations down to Plankstetten with the imposing monastery complex. In the monastery's own bakery you can get excellent Emmerbrot, which is baked with ingredients from monastery agriculture and gardening. It also tastes delicious organic beer from the monastery brewery. Take all the time in the world, it is only a stone's throw to the goal.Arrival: You can reach the starting point Greding from Hilpoltstein with the Gredl-Express 636 and the line 611.Departure: From the bus stop in Plankstetten you can get back on the bus lines 515 and 520.

This hike is a feast for the eyes, especially in late summer and autumn, when red-gold foliage shimmers between golden-white and dark-blue grapes. But it is also worth discovering the sun-drenched slopes in spring and summer. Every season the landscape around the vineyards enchants with its very own charm - from the blossom of the fruit tree to the colorfully blooming summer meadows.With the promising Weigenheimer Kapellberg and the romantic Hohenlandsberg castle ruins, two special highlights await you. In a constant up and down you hike over sun-drenched vineyards to unique viewpoints. And at the end of the hike, you can reap the fruits of your toil when you stop in one of the lovely wine huts.Arrival: The Bocksbbeutel-Express 109 takes you either from Uffenheim train station or from Iphofen station to Weigenheim at the weekend. You can reach both stations with the regional train. If you like to walk a bit more, you can also hike from Uffenheim across meadows and fields to Weigenheim.Departure: From the local fountain in Reusch, the Bocksbbeutel-Express 109 takes you back to Uffenheim and for connection to the regional train network.

A lot of variety awaits you on this hike through the Spalter Hügelland: exciting paths, relaxed refreshment stops and a fun boat trip. Perfect for a tour where enjoyment is not neglected. The start of the 14-kilometer hike - during which you cover around three kilometers on the ship - is at the old town hall in Spalt.A visit to the beer museum in Spalt is worthwhile right from the start. The exhibition is interactive and explains more about the world of hops and the art of brewing. After a stop at the HopfenBierGut, things really get going. You leave the gap and hike past meadows and fields slightly up the mountain.Soon the path leads you into the forest and you reach the Schnittlinger Loch. The Hatzelbach has hollowed out the sandstone for millennia and shaped this beautiful gorge. The rock walls rise up to 15 meters and offer a wonderful backdrop. You hike along a wildly romantic path through the forest and further on the high meadows over the Keilberg.Then it goes downhill again and you already enjoy a great view of the Great Brombachsee. In Enderndorf you stand on the bank of the reservoir in the Franconian Lake District and can let your gaze wander over the water. Time to board the MS Brombachsee. With the ferry you sail across the lake and get back on land in Ramsberg. Not far from the jetty you can lie down on the beach and cool off in the lake or relax in "The Bay". It is now not far to Ramsberg train station.Arrival: You can take the R-Bahn or the S2 to Roth from Nuremberg Central Station. From there, the Brombachsee Express continues to Spalt.Ferry trip: All information about the trip across the lake can be found at msbrombachsee.com.Departure: At the train station in Ramsberg you get on the Seenland train R62 to go back to Nuremberg.

Nature, culture and wine - on this hike from the mountain range of the Steigerwald over to the wine paradise Bullenheimer Berg you will find everything a hiking heart desires.You follow the Steigerwald mountain range, which is almost 500 meters high, along many natural paths and root paths of a primeval forest. An imposing ravine finally leads you back down and past species-rich flower and orchards to Nenzenheim. From here it goes over vineyards up to Kapellberg and over to Bullenheimer Berg with the ruins of the Kunigunden chapel. Enjoy the enchanting view of the wide country. The detour to the cozy wine paradise barn and the exhilarating descent down the winegrower's staircase to Bullenheim with other winegrowers' farms complete the wine hiking day.If you want to take your time, you can split this hike into two stages. You finish your first and then start the second day in Nenzenheim.Arrival: The starting point Markt Bibart is on the Nuremberg-Würzburg railway line and is served by the regional trains every hour.Departure: From Bullenheim you can get back to Markt Bibart on Saturday, Sunday and public holidays on the Bocksbbeutel-Express from the beginning of May to the end of October.

The Wine Paradise Trail is not only a worthwhile tour for wine lovers: in late summer and autumn the vineyards turn into a sea of yellow, red and orange. In addition, two cultural highlights await you along the way with Frankenberg Castle and the Kunigunden Chapel.You start in Weigenheim and hike up the hill to Kapellberg and Langer Berg. With great views, you follow the path northwards through vineyards and fields. Huts and wineries invite you to tastings and also offer you one or two refreshments. It continues through the gently undulating landscape and soon the Frankenberg Castle appears in front of you: the pointed roofs protrude from the forest and from the hill of the Frankenberg you can enjoy a great view. Behind the castle, which is privately owned, you can visit the ruins of Hinterfrankenberg.Then you hike between the forest and grapevines along the Bullenberg, where the ruins of the Kunigunden chapel and several beautiful viewpoints are located. Your goal is in Hüttenheim - a place worth seeing with narrow streets and the famous church castle.Arrival: The Bocksbbeutel-Express 109 takes you either from Uffenheim train station or from Iphofen station to Weigenheim at the weekend. You can reach both stations with the regional train. If you like, you can also hike from Uffenheim to Weigenheim.Departure: From Hüttenheim you can take the 8107 bus to Kitzingen and from there you can take the regional trains to Nuremberg. On weekends you can take the Bocksbbeutel-Express 109 to Uffenheim or Iphofen station.

The fortified churches are a unique form of architecture in Franconia: in order to protect against attacks, fortifications were built around the church in some villages. These fortified churches consist of a protective wall, on the inside of which barns and storage rooms, so-called Gaden, were built.The tour starts at the Iphofen train station and initially takes you across fields and through vineyards to Mönchsondheim. In the charming village you can find out more about the Franconian fortified churches in the fortified church museum. In the cobbled streets between the colorful half-timbered buildings around the St. Bonifatius Church, you can immerse yourself in the Middle Ages.So that you get a direct comparison, you hike on to Hüttenheim, where you can marvel at a second fortified church. To the south of Hüttenheim it goes into the sun-drenched vineyards: surrounded by vines, the path meanders up to the Tannenberg. Once at the top you can enjoy a wonderful all-round view from the cross of the German reunification.With a great view, you continue towards Kapellberg and pass an abandoned quarry. Before you descend to Seinsheim, it is worth stopping at the popular wine paradise barn. Also at your destination in Seinsheim you can visit an impressive fortified church and take a look back at the Bullenheim vineyards.Arrival: The regional train R1 takes you directly from Nuremberg to Iphofen. The Bocksbeutel Express 109 starts here on weekends.Departure: From Seinsheim, the 8112 bus takes you to Marktbreit, where you can change to the regional train. On weekends, the Bocksbeutel Express 109 connects Seinsheim with Uffenheim and Iphofen stations.