Camping in Spessart

The Spessart low mountain range stretches between the Rhön, Vogelsberg and Odenwald in Bavaria and Hesse and is a fantastic destination for nature camping and camping in the mountains. Picturesque villages combine with an enchanting backdrop of mountains, rivers, forests and small ponds to create an appealing whole. The Spessart leaves nothing to be desired for campers with a flair for the romance of nature and a taste for relaxing in the countryside.

Special features of camping in the Spessart

The rivers Main, Kinzig and Sinn, as well as numerous oak and beech forests, define the dreamlike landscape, which also includes rounded mountain peaks and vast cultivated landscapes. The Spessart is a treasure trove of superlatives: on an area of 2,440 km², the region combines two nature parks, five landscape conservation areas, 84 nature reserves and 170 mountains and elevations. Camping in the Spessart stands for inexhaustible enjoyment of nature in the sparsely populated region between Hesse and Bavaria, the campsites in the Spessart are often idyllically situated in the middle of the countryside. Excursions to picturesque villages and towns, such as the capital of the Spessart, Aschaffenburg, round off a camping holiday in this natural paradise and introduce visitors to the culture and cuisine of the region - unforgettable impressions for the whole family.

How to get there

The Lower Franconian village of Wiesen is very centrally located in the Spessart and directly on the Bavarian-Hessian border. It offers cosy places to stop for refreshments and cultural and historical monuments. Frankfurt am Main: The journey from Frankfurt on the A3 motorway is a good 66 km. The journey takes you past the towns of Offenbach and Aschaffenburg. The Weiskirchen Süd service area has a petrol station and a restaurant, making it the perfect place for an extended break. Stuttgart: Visitors travel 205 km along the A 81 motorway from Stuttgart to Wiesen. The expansive landscape on the journey offers travellers a dreamy backdrop. The Wunnenstein-Ost service area provides delicious refreshments en route. Dortmund: The 260 km journey to Wiesen via the A 45 is characterised by dense forest. The route takes you past Lüdenscheid, Siegen and Giessen. A break is recommended at the Dollenberg motorway service area near Herborn. Munich: The journey from Munich is 359 kilometres on the A 9 and A 3 motorways and takes you past Ingolstadt, Nuremberg, Erlangen and Würzburg. The varied landscapes of wooded areas and cultivated landscapes offer very beautiful views. Travellers can stop for refreshments at the Steigerwald Nord service area after Erlangen.

Destinations in the Spessart

The Spessart has a multitude of dreamy settlements and old towns with historic town centres. As a starting point for a journey through bygone eras, the region offers visitors a wealth of possibilities.

Aschaffenburg

The city with its 70,000 inhabitants is located on the western border of the Spessart and offers exciting events all year round in addition to quaint flea markets, fairs and the weekly market. Aschaffenburg is therefore all about festivals, concerts, exhibitions, cabarets and theatre. Architecturally and culturally, Aschaffenburg enchants visitors with its magnificent Johannisburg Palace and idyllic parks. Schönbusch, a park from the 18th century, boasts the castle of the same name, an old arched stone bridge and a magical system of streams and ponds.

Gelnhausen

Emperor Barbarossa founded the once important imperial town of Gelnhausen in 1170 and had an imperial palace built right next to it to make it possible to change the seat of government. The building served as a hunting lodge and as a residence for important receptions and for representative purposes. The imperial palace can still be visited today. In addition to pretty half-timbered houses and pretty streets, Gelnhausen also offers visitors a well-preserved town wall and authentic inns serving hearty food, beer and cider.

Activities and excursions

The lush forest and the many mountains and high altitudes characterise the Spessart as an excellent hiking and climbing destination. In addition to a large number of other leisure activities, a river cruise on boats such as the Maintal-Bummler is particularly recommended, where you can enjoy the marvellous scenery with a good meal.

Hike to the Ludwigsturm

An idyllic circular hike on the Johannesberg invigorates the senses and activates the circulation. The tour starts from Rückersbach and leads along mostly well-surfaced paths to the time-honoured Ludwigsturm tower and on to the Hahnenkamm mountain inn for refreshments. The view of meadows and vineyards is just as much a part of this moderately difficult hike as Wasserlos Castle. The tour offers many excellent photo opportunities, making the hike an impressive experience.

Boat trip on the Main

Relax and enjoy the wild natural romance of the Spessart to the rhythm of the Main - where better to do this than on an extensive boat trip on the Main? The charming panorama opens up views of churches, castles, monasteries, half-timbered towns, vineyards and wooded hillsides. A boat tour is a sensual experience that is rounded off with the enjoyment of delicious on-board cuisine. You can hop on and off at various stops along the way: Aschaffenburg, Marktheidenfeld am Main, Lohr am Main and Gemünden am Main are just a few of them.

Gastronomy

Spessart cuisine offers specialities such as charcoal-burning meat and Spessart brown trout, and the region's chefs also like to use traditional Hessian and Bavarian recipes in which dumplings, sausages and cabbage play a leading role. As a forest region, the Spessart can serve delicious seasonal, hearty game dishes such as venison and saddle of venison, accompanied by wild mushrooms such as chanterelles, porcini mushrooms or morels. Modern Spessart cuisine often comes up trumps with contemporary and trendy creations made with products from the region: for example, succulent, organic meat and locally grown vegetables - basic ingredients for original creations that treat visitors' palates to new and innovative flavours.

Best time to visit

Fresh summers and moderately cold winters characterise the low mountain range climate of the temperate oceanic type and make a stay at the campsites in the Spessart a year-round pleasure. However, the size of the Spessart allows for different climatic influences. The peripheral zones benefit from the climate of the Main Valley, while the higher altitudes and central zones are fresher. The sometimes strongly fluctuating climatic differences within the Spessart can be seen in the snowdrop blossom, among other things. This begins in mid-February to early March in the Main valley and only at the end of March in the higher altitudes. Thanks to the extensive forest areas, the humidity is generally relatively high everywhere and often leads to the formation of misty clouds along streams and field meadows.