Hesse, Bavaria

Rhön, Hoher Vogelsberg and Spessart

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The border area between Bavaria and Hesse is hilly. The route to the moorlands of the Upper Rhön leads through volcanic terrain. After encountering a number of artistic and culinary high points along the road through the idyllic tranquillity of the Hoher Vogelsberg nature park, the highlight of the route for drivers awaits us - the Schottenring, a 35.7 km circuit on which mountain races were held as late as the 1950s. The Spessart mountain road leads back to the Bavarian part of the Rhön.

Route profile

Country: Germany
Distance: 297 km
Absolute Driving time : 5 h
Recommended tour duration: 1 Day
Best touring season: May - Oct.

Route course

Bad Brückenau - Hochrhönstrasse - Wasserkuppe - Kleinsassen - Laubach - High Vogelsberg Nature Park - Schottenring - Bad Brückenau

Route character

Track
exhilarating -1 relaxing
Landscape
wild 3 picturesque
Destinations
intellectual -2 pleasurable

Comments:
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Destinations

  • Dorint Resort & Spa Bad Brückenau

    0 km

    Countries: Germany
    Category: Hotels

    Once it was the Royal summer residence of Ludwig I; today, those seeking relaxation can enjoy the Art Nouveau setting of the spa complex. Surrounded by a Baroque-style park covering 40,000 m², the 4-star hotel is right in the heart of Bad Brückenau. Besides 186 bedrooms and suites, the hotel offers all the facilities of a good resort & spa. Since spring 2008, traditional medical therapies such as moor and mineral baths have been added to the treatments offered by the modern Vital Spa.

    Address:
    Dorint Resort & Spa Bad Brückenau, Heinrich-von-Bibra-Strasse 13, 97769 Bad Brückenau, Germany
    Contact:
    Constantin von Deines, proprietor
    Tel.: +49–(0)9741–85 0 Fax: +49–(0)9741–85 0
    E-Mail: info.badbrueckenau@dorint.com
    Parking:
    Parking available right next to the building.
    Opening hours:
    Open year-round.
    Good to know:
    There is a fantastic panoramic view from the beautiful Fürstenhof at the northern end of the spa complex - King Ludwig I looked out over his Bavarian kingdom from here.
    Further information:
    www.dorint.com

  • Bad Brückenau State Mineral Springs

    0 km

    Countries: Germany
    Category: Sightseeing

    Its water is counted amongst the ten best in Europe. In 2007, the Deutsche Landwirtschaftsgesellschaft awarded the healing water of the Brückenau mineral springs its gold medal. The water finds its way from the depths of the Rhön through various rock strata in the biosphere reserve. From the glazed gallery on the first floor of the modest office building, visitors can discover the history of the mineral water, its source and its ecological bottling process.

    Address:
    Staatlicher Bad Brückenauer Mineralbrunnen, Amand-von-Buseck-Strasse 2, 97769 Bad Brückenau, Germany
    Contact:
    Christiane Schuhmann, visitor contact
    Tel.: +49–(0)9741–803 0 Fax: +49–(0)9741–803 0
    E-Mail: info@badbrueckenauer.de
    Parking:
    Parking available right next to the building.
    Opening hours:
    Open year-round Mon. - Thur. from 08:00 - 16:00 hrs, Friday from 8:00 - 13:00 hrs; Closed on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays.
    Good to know:
    At the end of the 18th century, the superb reputation of the healing waters of Bad Brückenau even extended as far as the court of the Russian Empress Catherine II.
    Further information:
    www.badbrueckenauer.de

  • Rhönhäuschen Inn

    0 km

    Countries: Germany
    Category: Food & drink

    Whether steamed with Riesling, cooked under a crust of herbs, or classically "blue" - the trout that are farmed here are only served freshly caught. The former highway watchman’s house on the Rhön road is right on the border between Bavaria and Hesse. It used to be a border station between the Kingdoms of Bavaria and Prussia. Marlene Schmidt and her son Matthias serve not only Rhön trout but also lamb and game here, on tables with checked tablecloths in wood-panelled rooms with tiled stoves.

    Address:
    Rhönhäuschen, Rhönhaus 1, 97653 Bischofsheim Rhön, Germany
    Contact:
    Marlene Schmidt, proprietor
    Tel.: +49–(0)9772–322 Fax: +49–(0)9772–322
    E-Mail: info@rhoenhaeuschen.de
    Parking:
    Parking available right next to the building.
    Opening hours:
    Open daily year-round from 08:00 - 21:00 hrs; hot meals from 11:30 - 14:00 and 17:00 - 21:00 hrs.
    Good to know:
    It's worth the detour! A very pretty country road leads to this authentic inn, which breeds its own trout.
    Further information:
    www.rhoenhaeuschen.de

  • Upper Rhön Road

    0 km

    Countries: Germany
    Category: Scenic

    For miles and miles, the Upper Rhön Road twines in gentle curves across the long crest of the Rhön Mountains. To start with, the road runs through dense forest, but soon the view for the driver opens up on both sides, with breathtaking, wide views of the endless meadows and pastures. Herds of Rhön sheep graze in the completely uninhabited landscape at over 800 m. The road passes the famous moorlands of the Rhön, from the high plateau steeply downhill into the valley, towards Fladungen.

    Address:
    Hochrhönstrasse
    Contact:
    Touristik-Service Spessart-Kinzigtal-Vogelsberg
    Tel.: +49–(0)6051–85137 16 Fax: +49–(0)6051–85137 16
    E-Mail: tourismus@mkk.de
    Parking:
    In the Rhön biosphere reserve, parking is allowed only in designated parking areas.
    Opening hours:
    In the winter months, the Upper Rhön Road is often closed due to snow and drifts; listen to the latest weather reports.
    Good to know:
    The Schwarze Moor is only a short walk from the Dreiländereck car park. Incidentally, the snack bar in the car park is famous for its superb Bratwurst.
    Further information:
    www.spessart-tourismus.de

  • Schwarze Moor

    0 km

    Countries: Germany
    Category: Sightseeing

    It is bitter cold. The Schwarze Moor - a geological rarity and a dark paradise of bizarrely shaped Carpathian birches, sundew and muddy brown moor pools. In the early morning, dense clouds of mist hang above the stems of the enchanted grasses. Visitors discover the mysteries of this unique natural drama as the walk across the wooden platforms that make up the circular pathway. To view the landscape as a whole, climb the striking 17 m observation tower, made from wood and steel.

    Address:
    Schwarze Moor - Haus der langen Rhön Information Centre, Unterelsbacher Strasse 4, 97656 Oberelsbach, Germany
    Contact:
    Haus der langen Rhön Information Centre
    Tel.: +49–(0)9774–910 260 Fax: +49–(0)9774–910 260
    E-Mail: info@brrhoenbayern.de
    Parking:
    Parking available right next to the building.
    Opening hours:
    The moor is open to everyone; information centre open year-round, daily except Tuesday; April - October von 10:00 - 17:00 hrs; November - March 10:00 - 16:00 hrs.
    Good to know:
    There are guided walks across the moor in the summer every Saturday at 10:00 hrs. The meeting point is the Steinerner Torbogen (Stone Gate). Cost for adults € 3.00 / children € 2.00.
    Further information:
    www.naturpark-rhoen.de

  • The Wasserkuppe

    0 km

    Countries: Germany
    Category: Sightseeing

    The bright parachutes, driven by the updraughts, rise into the steel-blue sky. Hang-gliders, paragliders and gliders start, land and circle around the bar peak of the Rhön. The Wasserkuppe - "birthplace of the glider" - still attracts gliding fans from all over the world. There's plenty of activity on the top of the highest mountain in Hesse. Apart from the hangar, airfield, pilots' memorial and weather station, the gliding museum offers a graphic insight into the 100-year-old history of flying.

    Address:
    Wasserkuppe - Rhön Information Centre, Wasserkuppe 1, 36129 Gersfeld, Germany
    Contact:
    Rhön Information Centre
    Tel.: +49–(0)6654–91834 0 Fax: +49–(0)6654–91834 0
    E-Mail: rhoen-info-zentrum@rhoen.de
    Parking:
    Parking available right next to the building.
    Opening hours:
    Open year-round Tue. - Sun. from 10:00 - 17:00 hrs.
    Good to know:
    "Hier halte Rast!" (Stop here and rest!), reads the sign not far from the source of the Fulda. The clear spring water is pleasantly refreshing as climbers approach the summit.
    Further information:
    www.rhoen.de

  • German Gliding Museum with model flight

    0 km

    Countries: Germany
    Category: Museums

    The Wasserkuppe is the highest mountain in Hesse. It is a Mecca for glider pilots, students of the history of air travel and lovers of the art of flying. There could be no better home for the German Gliding Museum than here, at a height of 950 m, where unpowered flying was born 100 years ago. Built in 1987 and with a modern extension added in 2006, the Museum explains the history of gliding with over 40 sailplanes, countless model aeroplanes and interactive multimedia stations.

    Address:
    Deutsches Segelflugmuseum mit Modellflug, Wasserkuppe 2, 36129 Gersfeld Rhön, Germany
    Contact:
    Dipl.-Ing. Theo Rack, director
    Tel.: +49–(0)6654–7737 Fax: +49–(0)6654–7737
    E-Mail: info@segelflugmuseum.de
    Parking:
    Parking available right next to the building.
    Opening hours:
    Open daily year-round; April - October from 09:00 - 17:00 hrs; November - March from 10.00 - 16:30 hrs.
    Good to know:
    Admission charges: Adults € 3.00 / younths € 2.00 / children under 6 free. Lively, bright, liberating: Gliders set off right outside the door, and the bright parachutes of the hang-gliders soar against the steel-blue sky.
    Further information:
    www.segelflugmuseum.de

  • Enzianhütte Inn

    0 km

    Countries: Germany
    Category: Food & drink

    The winding road leads idyllically down the Wasserkuppe. The Enzianhütte inn nestles at a height of 760 m like an eagle's nest on a rock ledge. The summer terrace, with its all-round view, offers a unique panorama of the whole Fulda region. The German Alpine Association built this simple mountain hut in the middle of the 1950s. Mr. and Mrs. Koch have been serving up their warm hospitality, hearty snacks and freshly poured beer here for over 20 years.

    Address:
    Enzianhütte, 36115 Hilders / Dietges, Germany
    Contact:
    Georg & Birgit Koch, proprietors
    Tel.: +49–(0)6658–319 Fax: +49–(0)6658–319
    E-Mail: info@enzianhuette-rhoen.de
    Parking:
    Parking available right next to the building.
    Opening hours:
    Open year-round; Wed. - Mon. and on public holidays, from 10:00 hrs; food available from 11:30 - 21:00 hrs; closed Tuesday; also closed on Mondays from November - March.
    Good to know:
    Keen walkers should know that the house is the starting point for many walking and mountain bike tours through the beautiful Fulda area.
    Further information:
    www.enzianhuette-rhoen.de

  • Kleinsassen Art Centre

    0 km

    Countries: Germany
    Category: Museums

    Modern extensions connect three old farmhouses. After the School Reforms, there was no need for the old village school, and it became a meeting place for artists and culture lovers. Behind the giant glass front, a café offers organic cakes and views of the village life of Kleinsassen. There's art everywhere: studios, galleries and workshops present world-class installations, paintings, photographs and sculptures. In the late summer, the Kleinsassen Art Festival is the artistic highpoint.

    Address:
    Kunststation Kleinsassen, An der Milseburg 2, 36145 Hofbieber-Kleinsassen, Germany
    Contact:
    Peter Ballmaier, head of the artists' complex
    Tel.: +49–(0)6657–8002 Fax: +49–(0)6657–8002
    E-Mail: kunststation@kleinsassen.de
    Parking:
    Parking available right next to the building.
    Opening hours:
    Open year-round from Tue. - Sun. from 13:00 - 18:00 hrs.
    Good to know:
    Admission charges: € 1.50 per person. Art for rent! Art lovers can rent pictures, graphic illustrations and installations in the Artothek and decorate their own four walls with works of art for a limited time. The hire charge is 3% of the value of the picture, or at least € 20.00 a year.
    Further information:
    www.kleinsassen.de

  • Schlitzer Distillery

    0 km

    Countries: Germany
    Category: Local manufacturers

    It was called the Schlitzer Kornbrennerei der Hessischen Staatsdomäne Karlshof until 2006. After being owned for over thirty years by the State of Hesse, politicians decided to sell the distillery to the town. It now answers to the simple name of Schlitzer Korn- und Edelobstbrennerei. Fruit brandies, Schlitz grain schnapps and herbal liqueurs have been distilled here using traditional recipes since 1585. Local farmers supply wheat and herbs that give the aromatic schnapps its pure flavour.

    Address:
    Schlitzer Korn- und Edelobstbrennerei, Im Grund 16, 36110 Schlitz, Germany
    Contact:
    Gottfried Ickler, distiller
    Tel.: +49–(0)6642–5267 Fax: +49–(0)6642–5267
    E-Mail: info@schlitzer-destillerie.de
    Parking:
    Parking available right next to the building.
    Opening hours:
    Factory shop open Mon. - Fri. from 07:00 - 16:30 hrs (Friday only until 15:30 hrs).
    Good to know:
    This is the second-oldest grain distillery in Germany, and it is right on the route.
    Further information:
    www.schlitzer-kornbrennerei.de

  • Country-Inn Waldschenke

    0 km

    Countries: Germany
    Category: Food & drink

    Just before reaching picturesque Laubach, we suddenly come across a very French country house. As a Euro Toques chef, Axel Horn, together with his wife, is committed to preserving the culinary heritage. His cooking is seasonal. Axel Horn uses mainly organic products from the local meadows and forests. Guests are able to enjoy excellent meals made from natural ingredients in the tastefully furnished rooms and the little summer terraces.

    Address:
    Landgasthaus Waldschenke, Tunnelstrasse 42, 35321 Laubach Freiensee, Germany
    Contact:
    Axel and Ingrid Michelle Horn, proprietors
    Tel.: +49–(0)6405–6110 Fax: +49–(0)6405–6110
    E-Mail: landgasthaus-waldschenke@t-online.de
    Parking:
    Parking available right next to the building.
    Opening hours:
    Hot food Tue. - Sun. and on public holidays from 11:30 - 14:00 and 18:00 - 21:00 hrs; closed Mondays; September - May also closed Tuesdays.
    Good to know:
    Chef Axel Horn obtains fresh mushrooms from the stock that grows in a disused railway tunnel not far from the 70-year-old country inn.
    Further information:
    www.landgasthaus-waldschenke.de

  • Castle Hotel Bunter Hund

    0 km

    Countries: Germany
    Category: Hotels

    In 2008 the family of the counts of Solms-Laubach opened the Bunter Hund Castle Hotel, not far from the Laubach Castle estate. A brass-coloured statue of a dog welcomes guests at the entrance to the white house with the bright red door. The intimate hotel has been lovingly refurbished, and looks bright and modern. The private collection of the Count's family decorates the 21 bedrooms and suites, and the artistically designed bathrooms quote bathing scenes created by Renoir, Matisse and Gauguin.

    Address:
    Schlosshotel Bunter Hund, Schottener Strasse 2, 35321 Laubach, Germany
    Contact:
    Karl Georg Count of Solms-Laubach, proprietor
    Tel.: +49–(0)6405–50698 0 Fax: +49–(0)6405–50698 0
    E-Mail: info@schlosshotel-laubach.de
    Parking:
    Parking available right next to the building.
    Opening hours:
    Open year-round.
    Good to know:
    Many artistic events attract visitors to the castle next door.
    Further information:
    www.schlosshotel-laubach.de

  • Laubach Castle

    0 km

    Countries: Germany
    Category: Sightseeing

    The family of the counts of Solms-Laubach lives in the Castle. They have lovingly restored the three horse-shoe shaped, interlocking parts of the building. The cultural life of this pretty town with its half-timbered houses is enhanced by the artistic flair, sculptures, exhibitions and opera performances in Laubach Castle. Guests will also find peace and inspiration in the extensive castle park, and delicious food is available in the Zur Hirschfrikadelle restaurant or the Zur Eule inn nearby.

    Address:
    Schloss Laubach, 35321 Laubach, Germany
    Contact:
    Karl Georg Count of Solms-Laubach, proprietor
    Tel.: +49–(0)6405–50698 0 Fax: +49–(0)6405–50698 0
    E-Mail: info@schlosshotel-laubach.de
    Parking:
    Parking available right next to the building.
    Opening hours:
    Open year-round; catering facilities open daily from 12:00 hrs.
    Good to know:
    The vaulted cellar is the oldest part of the castle, at over 700 years old - its impressive, Gothic vaulted space with its mighty pillars is open several days a week as a bar.
    Further information:
    www.schloss-laubach.de

  • Schottenring

    0 km

    Countries: Germany
    Category: Scenic

    In the midst of the idyllic tranquillity of the Hoher Vogelsberg nature park, the highlight of the route for drivers awaits us. International motorcycle and car races were held on the famous Schottenring, a 35.7 km track starting and ending in Schotten, until well into the 1950s. The course still exists, but nowadays only Grand Prix races for historic cars are held here. The following section on the B276 to Gedern has plenty going for it too!

  • Golf Club Spessart

    0 km

    Countries: Germany
    Category: Golf courses

    The Spessart Golf Club is one of the oldest golf clubs in Hesse. Players love its private character. At its highest point, it is 530 m high. As the golfer tees off, he glimpses an unforgettable view across the Feldberg, the Hoherodskopf and the Wasserkuppe. Well-established trees, traditional orchards and natural biotopes line the fairways. And after the game, golfers and guests can enjoy the romantic sunsets against the impressive mountain backdrop.

    Address:
    Golf-Club Spessart, Am Golfplatz, 63628 Bad Soden-Salmünster, Germany
    Contact:
    Eberhard Stamm, President
    Tel.: +49–(0)6056–9158 0 Fax: +49–(0)6056–9158 0
    E-Mail: info@gc-spessart.de
    Parking:
    Parking available right next to the building.
    Opening hours:
    An 18-hole course open year-round; office open daily April - October from 09:00 - 17:00 hrs; start times daily from 09:00 - 17:00 hrs; November - March open daily from 10:00 - 15:00 hrs.
    Course:
    An 18-hole course (par 72).
    Handicap:
    An 18-hole course (par 72).
    Greenfee:
    An 18-hole course (par 72).
    Golf Pro:
    Stephen Walker
    Good to know:
    The greens are widely regarded as difficult to read! Take a tip from the pro - the fairways slope into the valley, even if it's not obvious to start with.
    Further information:
    www.gc-spessart.com

  • Spessart Mountain Road

    261 km

    Countries: Germany
    Category: Scenic

    The Spessart mountain road links the highest points of the western Spessart. Dense pine forests, pastures and romantic villages line the route for over 50 km. The short section along the bendy road from Steinau offers views across the wide expanses of Central Germany before the road passes across the Bavarian border and back towards Bad Brückenau.