Kreuzwertheim combines historic sights in the town centre with hiking and cycling trails and a remarkable orchard landscape. The Erlichgärten lie north of the old town; in the town itself, the church square, museum and historic buildings offer their own reasons to visit. You can focus on nature and local history, or combine both with activities on foot and by bike.
Orchard landscape and biodiversity
The Erlichgärten, a 45-hectare orchard area, stretch directly north of the old town. They are part of the European Fauna-Flora-Habitat site “Maintalhänge zwischen Bürgstadt und Wertheim”. Surveys have recorded more than 50 rare and endangered bird and beetle species there. This area adds a distinctive natural highlight alongside the town’s historic sights.
Historic traces in the town centre
The historic church square is home to a Romanesque church dating from 1443 and a stone high cross. The high cross is considered a landmark and is associated with the beginnings of Christianisation in the southeastern Spessart. The square therefore offers a tangible connection to the region’s religious history for anyone exploring the town.
Built in 1594, the Peter-Herrschaft-Haus is a Renaissance building with a stepped gable. A winery has operated there ever since it was built. The building thus combines its architecture with a long wine-making tradition; however, no opportunity to visit or taste wine is guaranteed.
The Prassek Scheune is a local history and crafts museum housed in an 18th-century barn. Its nine open rooms and divisions showcase aspects of rural life, from the kitchen and living room to shoemaking, school and farming. Anyone interested in rural life and work will find a different way to explore local history here than at the church square.
A walk through the town centre also offers a view of a castle dating from 1736. It remains a residence and is not open for guided tours. The building can be seen as part of a walk through town, but not visited inside.
Hiking with clear route details
The circular hiking trail “Auf dem Weg ins Himmelreich” (On the Way to Himmelreich) leads from Wertheim through Kreuzwertheim and Himmelreich and back to Wertheim. The circular route takes about three hours, is rated easy and marked with “Schwarzes H” and “W4”. As trail conditions and markings can change, it is worth checking the latest route information before setting out.
The landscapes and destinations to explore on hikes around Kreuzwertheim include the river landscape along the Main, Kreuzwertheimer Himmelreich and the Kaffelstein wine-growing area. The town is also a notable point for long-distance hikers: the final stage of the Main hiking trail ends in Kreuzwertheim, on the border with Baden-Württemberg.
Cycling and getting out on the water
Cyclists can follow a route along the Main or take more challenging tours between the Spessart forests and vineyards. E-bikes are considered particularly suitable for less experienced cyclists. There is an e-bike charging station in Kreuzwertheim, directly on the Main Cycle Route; check its availability locally before your trip.
You can rent a canoe or kayak in the area around Kreuzwertheim to explore the river. Check availability before your trip. This lets you choose between hiking, cycling and a trip on the water according to your interests, without combining the different activities into a single route.
Further afield: culture in the Main-Tauber district
The wider Main-Tauber district destination also offers cultural and wine-related activities. Bronnbach Monastery is a former Cistercian monastery in the district. Wine tastings can be booked at the Taubertal wine shop there, where more than 20 winegrowers and wineries present selected wines from Baden, Württemberg and Franconia. The monastery’s Bronnbacher Kultouren programme includes concerts, readings, exhibitions, wine and food events, and talks.
Discover more destinations: Ahorn, Weikersheim, Großrinderfeld, Boxberg, Bad Mergentheim, Igersheim, Assamstadt, Külsheim.
For the full travel overview: Main-Tauber district.
