Fränkische Schweiz West - Heiligenstadt - Ebermannstadt - Gößweinstein

Difficult circuit through the heights and depths of the western Franconian Switzerland

For 'southerners', Franconian Switzerland is rather unexplored territory. After all, they have the Alps as their own training ground right on their doorstep. So why should one venture so far north? The answer is revealed in part on this challenging loop between Heiligenstadt, Ebermannstadt, and Gößweinstein.

We choose Seigendorf as the starting point for our tour because it is quick to reach from the Hirschaid highway exit. After a Tuscan, hilly entry over to Wernsdorf, Leesten, and Zeegendorf, a surprisingly tough mountain classification soon follows up to Teuchatz (up to 18% gradient over about 1 kilometer!). Thus, we have truly earned the subsequent wonderful chase down through a picturesque valley. So, we arrive relatively refreshed at Ebermannstadt, where we encounter the wider, romantic Wiesent Valley.

There, we find ourselves on fantastically good bike paths, passing by castles, mills, and small villages, heading deeper into the heart of Franconia.

At Behringersmühle, we cross the Wiesent to reach the other side of the river and climb up to the plateau between Leutzdorf and Moggast. Once again we roll down to Ebermannstadt, only to climb up again on the other side of the village on a long, gentle incline.

We pass a vast quarry and enjoy the relaxing descent on the western side of the slope. The return trip to Seigendorf through the stops at Gunzendorf, Dreuschendorf, and Buttenheim is then noticeably more complicated than it initially appears.

But at some point, we complete this beautiful round through western Franconian Switzerland, satisfied and exhausted.

We look back on the entire spectrum that makes a captivating bike tour: exhausting hills, aggressive mountain classifications, lazy rivers, and fast valleys, as well as many charming places and nooks along the way.