Mainz to Würzburg

Day 1: Mainz
Day 2: Mainz - Frankfurt am Main, 28 mi. (45 km)
Day 3: Frankfurt am Main - Offenbach - Aschaffenburg, 28 mi. (45 km)
Day 4: Aschaffenburg - Miltenberg,  25 mi. (40 km) 
Day 5: Miltenberg - Wertheim - Lohr - Karlstad, 31 mi. (50 km)
Day 6: Karlstad - Würzburg, 24 mi. (39 km)
Day 7: Würzburg

Day 1: Mainz
The Merlijn will be moored in the city of Mainz. Embarkation begins at 3:30 pm. The crew will welcome you onboard and while you enjoy a complimentary drink you will get information about the ship, the tours, and the bicycles. Mainz' Old Town is the pride and joy of the city scene. Broad, roomy squares, lovingly-restored half-timbered houses, and magnificent Baroque churches give the Old Town its charming, "gemuetliches" character.

Day 2: Mainz - Frankfurt am Main, 28 mi. (45 km)
You pass the first lock on the Main River in the morning, after which your first bike tour will start en route to Frankfurt. Frankfurt was a city-state, the Free City of Frankfurt, for nearly five centuries, and was one of the most important cities of the Holy Roman Empire, as a site of imperial coronations. It lost its sovereignty upon the collapse of the empire in 1806, and then permanently in 1866 when it was annexed by the Kingdom of Prussia. Frankfurt is both a major city and a global hub for commerce, culture, education, tourism, and transportation. It is the financial center of the European continent and home to the headquarters of major European Banks. There will be enough time to discover the city at your own pace, as there is an overnight stay in Frankfurt.

Day 3: Frankfurt am Main - Offenbach - Aschaffenburg, 28 mi. (45 km)
The Merlijn cruises to  Offenbach as you enjoy breakfast. Once on the bikes, your route leads through Bürgel, Mühlheim, and Hanau, the town where the famous Grimm brothers were born. Don’t forget to try a ‘currywurst-mit-brötchen”, a type of fine German pork sausage typically steamed and seasoned with curry ketchup! Via Steinheim, with its charming historic center, and Klein-Krotzenburg along the river Main, you head towards the small, romantic city of Seligenstadt with its meandering alleyways, half-timber houses, and Basilica. After crossing the Main River on a small ferry, you continue to your destination, Aschaffenburg. In the evening, you'll have the opportunity to stroll through the old city center to see the churches, especially the large castle situated along the riverbank.

Day 4: Aschaffenburg - Miltenberg,  25 mi. (40 km) 
Following the river, you pass through lovely small towns and villages, such as Klingenberg and Groszheubach, both famous for their fine red wines. The day's destination, Miltenberg, is a charming village with numerous alleyways, winding streets, and old restored half-timber houses, as well as a historic market square and ‘Zum Riesen’, the oldest pub in Germany. In the afternoon, you are offered a brewery tour and beer-tasting session at the famous ‘Faust’ brewery. Once you’ve sampled the local beer, you can enjoy the local cuisine of Miltenberg when you dine ashore in the evening.

Day 5: Miltenberg - Wertheim - Lohr - Karlstad, 31 mi. (50 km)
While you enjoy your breakfast, the Merlijn continues its journey, sailing from Miltenberg to Wertheim, at the confluence of the rivers Main and Tauber; a town that invites you to visit its historic center and the mountain ruins. From here, you cycle to Lohr, passing the half-timber castle Homburg and through the ever-changing landscape of abundant vineyards and forested mountain slopes. The historic monastery, Triefenstein, is also a highlight of today's route. Further on, you arrive at Lohr am Main with its Gothic and Baroque buildings, where you will board the Merlijn. You sail on to Karlstad. Dinner is served on board, and afterward, there will be time for a post-meal walk-in Karlstad, where the streets are laid out much like a chessboard, not entirely straight, a concept conceived for military purposes.

Day 6: Karlstad - Würzburg, 24 mi. (39 km)
Today, the bike tour leads you further on along the river Main, leaving behind Karlstadt and its historic center. The next port of call is Würzburg, a definite highlight of the trip. Explore this beautiful Baroque city, walk up the gradually ascending road, and climb the fortress ‘Würzburg Residence”, which offers a magnificent view of the historic center of Würzburg and its many towers. Enjoy a guided tour of the Residence, after which you can make your way to the ship in your own time. In the evening, a captain’s dinner will be served on board.

Day 7: Würzburg
After breakfast, it is time to say goodbye and continue your European trip or leave for the airport.

Would you like to stay on board and travel longer on the Merlijn? This is an excellent trip to combine with the successive Würzburg to Nuremberg Bike & Barge cruise. This combination means your tour will run from Mainz all the way to Nuremberg.

Day 1: Würzburg
Day 2: Würzburg – Karlstad - Lohr, 24 mi. (39 km)
Day 3: Lohr – Wertheim - Miltenberg, 30 mi. (48 km)
Day 4: Miltenberg - Aschaffenburg, 25 mi. (40 km)
Day 5: Aschaffenburg – Offenbach - Frankfurt, 28 mi. (45 km)
Day 6: Frankfurt - Mainz, 28 mi. (45 km or extend to 49 km)
Day 7: Mainz

Day 1: Würzburg
Check-in on board at 1:30. Once you drop off your luggage, your bike guide for the week accompanies you as you walk up the gradually ascending road, and arrive at the ‘Würzburg Residence’ fortress. It offers a magnificent view of the historic center of Würzburg and its many towers. Enjoy a guided tour of the Residence, after which you can make your way to the ship. At 4:00 pm you will enjoy an official welcome with a complimentary beverage, the introduction of the crew, and a tour presentation. After your first dinner on board, there is time to take an evening stroll ashore. Overnight stay in Würzburg.

Day 2: Würzburg - Karlstad - Lohr, 24 mi. (39 km)
The bikes are distributed and fitted in the morning and then the cycling begins! Your first itinerary leads along the river Main, leaving behind Würzburg and its historic center. After your first impressions of the ‘Main-Radweg’ and a picnic lunch prepared by the Merlijn chef, you reach Karlstad, where the streets are laid out much like a chessboard but are not entirely straight: a concept conceived for military purposes. After your visit to the city, board the Merlijn to sail onward to Lohr am Main. Dinner is served during the cruise, and afterward, there is time for a post-meal walk through Lohr am Main with its Gothic and Baroque buildings.

Day 3: Lohr – Wertheim - Miltenberg, 30 mi. (48 km)
While you enjoy your breakfast, the bikes are prepared by the crew and will be waiting for you to set off on today’s tour to Wertheim. At the confluence of the rivers Main and Tauber, this town invites you to visit its historic center and mountain ruins. Along the way, you encounter the half-timber castle Homburg, and cycle through the ever-changing landscape of abundant vineyards and forested mountain slopes, with bizarre rocks and historic monuments, such as the Triefenstein monastery. At Wertheim, the Merlijn is waiting to take you to Miltenberg, where your day ends. It’s a charming village with numerous alleyways, winding streets, and old restored half-timber houses, as well as a historic market square and ‘Zum Riesen’, which is the oldest pub in Germany. After dining on board, you are offered a tour and beer-tasting session at the famous ‘Faust’ brewery.

Day 4: Miltenberg - Aschaffenburg, 25 mi. (40 km)
Today, the bike tour leads you further on along the river Main, following the ‘Main-Radweg’. You pass lovely small towns and villages, such as Klingenberg and Groszheubach, both famous for their fine red wines, before continuing to our destination of Aschaffenburg. In the afternoon, you have the chance to stroll through the old city center to see the churches, and the large castle situated along the riverbank. Once you’ve admired the local attractions, you can enjoy the local cuisine of Aschaffenburg when you dine ashore in the evening.

Day 5: Aschaffenburg – Offenbach - Frankfurt, 28 mi. (45 km)
Another delicious on board breakfast will fuel you up for the day’s cycling! Leaving Aschaffenburg with good memories, the bike tour begins taking you to the small, romantic city of Seligenstadt with its meandering alleyways, half-timber houses, and Basilica. Continuing via Klein-Krotzenburg along the river Main and Steinheim, you head towards Hanau, the town where the famous Grimm brothers were born. You might want to try a ‘Currywurst mit Brötchen’ along the way, a type of fine German pork sausage typically steamed and seasoned with curry ketchup! After your visit, head towards Offenbach, passing Bürgel and Mühlheim.

From Offenbach, you head towards Frankfurt, Europe’s banking city. Frankfurt was a city-state, the Free City of Frankfurt, for nearly five centuries, and was one of the most important cities of the Holy Roman Empire, as the site of imperial coronations. It lost its sovereignty upon the collapse of the empire in 1806, and then permanently in 1866 when it was annexed by the Kingdom of Prussia. Frankfurt is both a major city and a global hub for commerce, culture, education, tourism, and transportation. It is the financial center of the European continent and home to the headquarters of major European Banks. There will be enough time to discover the city at your own pace, as there is an overnight stay in Frankfurt.

Day 6: Frankfurt - Mainz, 28 mi. (45 km or extend to 49 km)
Your last cycling day has already arrived, so wave ‘Auf wiedersehen’ to Frankfurt from the saddle of your bike and then follow the Main river ‘downstream’. A short stop at the inviting ‘Schwanheimer Düne’ nature reserve will recharge your green heart in this predominantly urban area. Passing along Eddersheim, Raunheim, and Rüsselsheim (Heim means home), you reach Kostheim, where the last lock of the river Main is situated, the ‘gates’ to the Rhine River for Merlijn. Here, you can board the ship for a last short cruise to Mainz, or continue cycling to Mainz by crossing a large bridge across the magnificent Rhine river. In the evening, the captain’s dinner will be served on board.

Day 7: Mainz
After breakfast, it is time to say goodbye and continue your European trip or leave for the airport.

Would you like to stay on board and travel longer on the Merlijn? This is an excellent trip to combine with our Nuremberg to Würzburg Bike & Barge cruise. This combination means your tour will run from Nuremberg to Mainz.