The best road cycling routes in Rhenish Hesse

The cycle path with its great scenery is highly recommended.

A particularly impressive view of the Niederwald Monument opens up from the opposite Bingen cultural bank. From there, you look directly across the wide, glittering current of the Rhine to the steep, sun-drenched vineyard terraces of Rüdesheim. Majestically, high up on the wooded rocky outcrop of the Niederwald, sits the monumental, 12.5-meter-high Germania statue. Especially in the late afternoon hours or at sunset, when the monumental bronze figure shines in the warm, golden light and the silhouette of the monument stands out sharply against the sky, the panorama unfolds its full splendor. The contrast between the lively hustle and bustle on the riverbank, the gentle green of the vines, and the widely visible, historically significant national monument makes this viewpoint an unforgettable experience in the UNESCO World Heritage Upper Middle Rhine Valley.

there are already great fast runners here

Beautiful stretch of road behind the Rhine dike

It is a wonderful view of the Rheingau (on the right bank of the Rhine) from what the people of Rheingau call the "ebsch Seit", meaning the ugly/unattractive side (of the Rhine). Impressive, next to Ehrenfels Castle, is the Niederwald Monument with the towering statue of Germania. Built in the 1870s to commemorate and celebrate the founding of the German Empire after the Franco-Prussian War (with the proclamation of the German Emperor Wilhelm I in Versailles in 1871).

The Main, with a total length of around 527 kilometers, is the longest right-bank tributary of the Rhine and one of Germany's most important rivers. It is formed by the confluence of two headwaters, the Red Main (Roter Main) from the Franconian Jura and the White Main (Weißer Main) from the Fichtelgebirge, which unite near Kulmbach in Upper Franconia. From there, the river meanders in distinct loops in a westerly direction through the federal states of Bavaria, Baden-Württemberg, and Hesse. The characteristic river bends shape scenically attractive regions such as the Franconian Wine Land or the Spessart, before the river finally flows into the Rhine at Mainz-Kostheim, opposite Mainz.The Main plays an outstanding role in the economy and transport in Central Europe as a major international shipping route. Through the Main-Danube Canal, completed in 1992, it is part of a continuous European waterway that connects the North Sea with the Black Sea via the Rhine and the Danube. The river thus serves as a lifeline for freight transport across the continent. Along its course lie important economic and industrial centers, above all the metropolis of Frankfurt am Main, whose famous skyline would be unthinkable without the picturesque backdrop of the river and its numerous bridges and promenades.In addition to its economic function, the Main has inestimable value for ecology and recreation. Its bank zones offer important habitats for a species-rich animal and plant world. For the population of the adjacent cities and communities, the river serves as a central local recreation area. Well-developed cycle paths, such as the popular Main Cycle Path (Main-Radweg), accompany the entire course of the river and attract numerous cyclists and hikers every year. In addition, water sports, excursion boats, and lively river promenades characterize the image of the river in the urban centers and make it a meeting point for sport and culture.

Historical Age: The bridge was built around 1877 (twelve years after the harbor opened) and is today considered one of the oldest still preserved swing bridges in all of Germany. For this reason, the steel truss construction is an important cultural monument under strict heritage protection. Technical Dimensions & Function: The structure has a length of 37.50 meters, a width of 4.50 meters, and weighs around 54 tons. The original mechanical rotation mechanism ensured for decades that the bridge could be swung to the side at any water level to allow larger ships to pass into the harbor basin. Modernization: After the historical rotation mechanism was irreparably damaged and jammed in 1996, the bridge was fundamentally reconstructed in 2009. The historical appearance of the top chords was preserved, while the outdated mechanics were replaced by a state-of-the-art hydraulic rotation system. Location & Significance: It connects the Stresemann-Ufer (Old Town side near the Hyatt Hotel) directly with the Victor-Hugo-Ufer on the upstream mole. Today, it serves exclusively as an important, highly frequented connection for pedestrians and cyclists and is an integral part of recreational routes such as the popular Mainzer Drei-Brücken-Weg.

Old Rhine bridge with distinctive bridge portals