The situation is explosive. The British are robbing the Spessart of its central position. It is currently the geographical centre of the EU. But the all-corrupting Brexit is looming. The Spessart will then only be a low mountain range, but it could become the centre of mountain biking.
Under this article you can download the GPS data for the MTB tours around Bad Orb free of charge:
- 1st trail loop Wintersberg: 19.9 km | 428 m elevation gain | 1:20 h
- 2nd special: Horst & Forst :54.5 km | 1393 m elevation gain | 5:00 h
- 3rd Haseltal loop: 30.9 km | 730 m elevation gain | 2:30 h
INFORMATION ABOUT BAD ORB
The precinct
The Spessart is a low mountain range between Vogelsberg, Rhön and Odenwald and stretches across northern Bavaria and southern Hesse. The small town of Bad Orb with its 10,000 inhabitants is an ideal starting point for bike tours. The Hessian Spessart Nature Park has 22 signposted routes with a total of 656 kilometres and 14560 metres of elevation gain.
The three single trails can be combined with various tours or tackled directly. You don't have to cover many metres in altitude to get to the start (approx. 200 metres). In general, all trails in the Hessian Spessart Nature Park are legally accessible, and you will rarely encounter hikers, even on the famous Donkey Trail - a medieval salt trade route. Naturally, it is important to behave with consideration in the nature park.
Bike school
Alexander Gaul offers trail camps, technique training and tours with his Trailflow bike school. Enduro rider Fabian Heim is also part of the team. www.trailflow.de
Bike shops
Offering good service
- BikeWork Desch: Altenhaßlauer-Str. 21, 63571 Gelnhausen, Tel. 06051/18 37, www.bikework-desch.de and the
- Bike Schmiede Ahl in Spessartstr. 11, 63628 Bad Soden Salmünster, Tel. 06056/6660, www.bikeschmiede-ahl.de
Bike info
Information boards and maps can be found in and around Bad Orb. Online at www.spessartbiken.de and www.flowtrail-badorb.de
Regenerate
In addition to the (free) walk through the briny air in the impressive salt works, the Toskana-Therme in Bad Orb is well worth a visit. Salty thermal baths, six saunas and a domed building with underwater music and coloured light displays. Admission from 17 euros. www.toskanaworld.net
Food and drink
The Main-Kinzig district is known for its home-style cooking, which is often served in abundance. The right places for this are:
- Kowalski: massive waffles and cakes on a terrace at Burg-Ring 2, www.konditorei-kowalski.de
- Jägerstube: Game dishes in an idyllic setting, Leopold-Koch-Str. 28, www.jaegerstube-bad-orb.de
- Olliz: In the middle of the spa gardens, this is the place to meet for cake and Mediterranean dishes in the evening, Spessartstr. 13, www.olliz-restaurant.de
- Kärrners Gasthausbrennerei: own beer, Schnitzel and Handkäs with music. Kurparkstr. 7, www.kaerrners.de
Info
Bad Orb Marketing, Tel. 06052/830, www.bad-orb.info, www.spessart-tourismus.de
You can read this article or the entire issue of BIKE 9/2018 in the BIKE app (iTunes and Google Play) or buy the issue in the DK shop reorder:
