In Ochsenfurt, you can choose how much to focus on culture, wine and nature, each of which offers clearly distinct experiences. The nearly complete fortifications frame the old town; wine tastings and guided walks reveal different aspects of the wine theme. In the Ochsenfurt Forest, you can choose between two routes of different lengths. There is also a geology tour near Kleinochsenfurt and several figures on the Old Main Bridge. This lets you plan your choices around your own interests instead of trying to fit every theme into a single itinerary.

Old Town, Clock and Bridge Figures

Ochsenfurt’s historic old town is encircled by nearly complete fortifications with numerous city gates and towers. The gates and towers define the old town’s setting; if you are interested in city history and architecture, they provide a clear starting point for the cultural part of your trip.

One distinctive detail on the town hall is the figurine clock on the Lanzentürmchen. It displays Ochsenfurt’s coat of arms, the days of the month and the phase of the moon. Its figures represent youth, old age and death. The clock face thus combines calendar and astronomical information with a depiction of the stages of life. Look out for these details during your visit if you want to notice not only the major buildings but also their distinctive features.

At the Old Main Bridge, you can distinguish further figures by their locations and creators. A figure named Thekla has stood on the right bank of the Main since 2012. Opposite is a figure of Saint John of Nepomuk created by Willi Grimm; on the town side is a second depiction of Nepomuk by Wilhelm Ax. The two depictions of Nepomuk therefore have different creators and locations. For a cultural history focus, these bridge figures complement the old town and town hall clock motifs with additional named works of art.

Geology and Trails in the Ochsenfurt Forest

Near Kleinochsenfurt, the “Experience Geology” tour leads to the “Würzburger Quaderkalk” quarry. There, visitors can explore interesting rock formations. The quarry was designated a National Geotope in 2019. The focus here is geology, unlike the fortifications and figures that define the town’s cultural attractions. If you are interested in rocks, this gives you a clearly defined theme to consider when planning your trip.

In the Ochsenfurt Forest, hikers can choose between a shortened loop and a longer route. At the junction toward Ochsensee, the shorter loop runs along the edge of the forest and returns through the woods. The longer option goes around Ochsensee. The difference is therefore both the length and the route: the shorter loop takes you along the forest edge and through the woods, while the longer one goes around the lake. Choose according to which of these two options you would like to include.

Wine Tastings and Guided Walks

Wine tastings at the individual wineries or in the vinotheque are available by prior phone arrangement. Call the relevant venue in advance rather than planning an unannounced visit. The Ochsenfurt Tourist Information Office also organizes wine tastings for individuals or groups. Coordinate the arrangements with the Tourist Information Office before including them in your plans.

The Tourist Information Office also organizes guided walks through the vineyards, likewise for individuals or groups. You should confirm these arrangements before planning as well. A wine tasting and a guided walk are different ways to explore the wine theme: the former focuses on tasting, while the latter takes you along paths through the vineyards. Which option better fits your trip depends on whether you would like to plan a wine tasting or a guided walk.

When choosing activities, it helps to first decide what you want to focus on: the old town and its works of art, rock formations, one of the two forest routes, or the wine theme. This makes it easier to distinguish between the different offerings and decide which ones fit your travel plans.

Discover more destinations: Randersacker, Kist, Reichenberg, Eisenheim, Rottendorf, Thüngersheim, Eibelstadt, Margetshöchheim.

For the complete travel overview: Würzburg.