Main-Tauber-Fränkischer Rad-Achter: Ostring stage 5

Lauda can be reached by train.

Every town/village on the route is reachable by train.

Inclines: none on this route

Distances:

Lauda – Königshofen (3.8 km)

Königshofen – Unterbalbach (2.7 km)

Unterbalbach – Edelfingen (2.1 km)

Edelfingen – Bad Mergentheim (3.7 km)

Bad Mergentheim – Igersheim (3.3 km)

Igersheim – Markelsheim (3.1 km)

Markelsheim – Weikersheim (6.7 km)

The eastern loop of the Main-Tauber-Fränkischer Rad-Achter starts, like the western loop, in Lauda and leads you on the cycle path „Liebliches Taubertal – The Classic“ via Königshofen, Unterbalbach and Edelfingen to Bad Mergentheim. In Lauda, the local history museum with a viticulture department, the historic city gate, and the St. Jakobus and Marien churches are worth seeing. You should definitely take a break in Bad Mergentheim. The picturesque town center points to witnesses of major cultural epochs. The marketplace with the Renaissance town hall opens the view to the historic residence castle with a museum and castle church. As the former residence of the high and German Masters of the Teutonic Order, the Teutonic Order Museum has the largest continuous exhibition about the Teutonic Order. Furthermore, the museum houses the princely rooms, documentation on city history, the Mörike cabinet, and an extensive dollhouse collection. The Münster and Marien churches are also worth a visit. World-famous is the remarkable painting of the Grünewald Madonna in Stuppach, a district of the spa town with the four springs, located a few kilometers south of the Rad-Achter circuit.

Those who love sports can take a stop at the Solymar thermal baths. For a relaxing break in a pleasant atmosphere, the spa and castle park should be on your visit program. The numerous cultural events organized by the city and spa administration also provide entertainment, as does a visit to the species-rich local animal park.

Your bike route continues to Igersheim. On the way, the ruins of Neuhaus Castle greet you from the opposite mountain ridge; once an armory of the Teutonic Order, today a well-known Trakehner stud farm. In Igersheim, restaurants and cafés invite you to linger, and a visit to the local history museum with the ancient shoemaker's workshop in the cultural center next to the stately St. Michael’s Church is always worthwhile. After Igersheim, the vineyards of Markelsheim, a charming wine village with a local winemaker cooperative, welcome you. Württemberg wine is produced here, which you should definitely taste. The winemaker cooperative, the wine educational trail, or local gastronomy warmly invite you. Via Elpersheim, you reach Weikersheim, your first stage destination. Culture and wine come together here in a successful meeting. Worth seeing is the Renaissance castle of the former Counts of Hohenlohe with the alchemy museum, the extensive baroque garden, and the splendid orangery. Alongside history, wine, and another element come together: music. Weikersheim is home to Jeunesses Musicales Germany, which organizes numerous concerts and an open-air opera. The center of the former residence town is the marketplace with its Gothic town church and the beautiful Rococo towers. Of course, in Weikersheim, one must not forget the Tauberländer village museum, the Tauber Philharmonic, the Gänsturm with the city museum providing a wonderful view over all of Weikersheim, as well as the somewhat mysteriously hidden pilgrimage hill church in the forest near Laudenbach.

Shortcut: Lauda – Würzburg (41.7 km)

Starting point: Lauda, elementary school (Classic)

Distances:

Lauda – Grünsfeld (7.0 km)

Grünsfeld – Unterwittighausen (8.4 km)

Unterwittighausen – Oberwittighausen (2.8 km)

Oberwittighausen – Kirchheim (3.6 km)

Kirchheim – Reichenberg (14.0 km)

Reichenberg – Würzburg (5.9 km)