Discover Mainhausen: Zellhügel, the banks of the Main and the cultural cycling route

Two themes in particular help guide your travel planning in Mainhausen: the archaeological monument in Zellhausen and the stops along the Kurmainzer Herz cultural cycling route. The Main Cycle Route, which passes by Mainhausen, is another option. You can tailor your stay to your interest in early medieval history, a cycling route designed as a day trip, or a longer route spanning a wider region. If you’re looking for a hotel in Mainhausen, you can take these different themes into account when choosing your destination.

The Zellhügel and early settlement history

The Zellhügel, an exceptional archaeological monument, is located within the municipal area of Mainhausen-Zellhausen. It is one of the most important early medieval settlement sites in the Rhine-Main region. For travelers interested in the region’s early history, this site provides a distinctive point of reference. Its classification as a settlement site links local history with an era of significance beyond Mainhausen, across the Rhine-Main region.

Stops along the Kurmainzer Herz cultural cycling route

The Kurmainzer Herz cultural cycling route connects Seligenstadt, Karlstein and Mainhausen via 16 stops along a route of about 35 kilometers. It is designed as a day trip. Stops associated with Mainhausen include Kilianus Bridge, the seventh stop, and the Mainflingen riverbank, the eighth. The Bongsche Tongrube clay pit is stop ten, the Häuser Schlösschen is stop eleven, and the Mainflingen broadcasting station is stop twelve. Stop thirteen is the birthplace of Käthe Paulus in Zellhausen. The sequence of stops brings together different local points of interest along one route, though not every stop has the same theme.

Kilianus Bridge is a footbridge for pedestrians and cyclists. Since 1989, it has connected Mainflingen in Hesse with Dettingen in Bavaria, replacing an earlier ferry service across the Main. As part of the Kurmainzer Herz route, it is a specific point of interest on the day trip. The Main Cycle Route is a different route: officially opened in July 2006, it is 530 kilometers long and can be followed continuously from Bayreuth to Mainz, passing by Mainhausen. The approximately 35 kilometers of the cultural cycling route and the 530 kilometers of the Main Cycle Route reflect different scales for travel planning.

Other activities and the regional context

At Zellhausen Airfield, LSV Seligenstadt-Zellhausen e. V. offers gliding, ultralight aviation and powered flight. If this is of interest for your trip, check current options in advance, as flight offerings may change.

The wider destination of Offenbach offers additional cultural and landscape-related themes. In Seligenstadt, the Einhard Basilica is considered one of the most important churches from the Carolingian period on German soil and is now a landmark of the town. The RegioMuseum there presents prehistoric and early history, local customs and crafts, painting and sculpture from the 15th to the 18th centuries, as well as the history of the town and abbey of Seligenstadt. The Palatium on the Main dates from the Hohenstaufen period and was probably built by Emperor Barbarossa as a hunting lodge.

For a landscape-focused perspective on the Offenbach destination, the 190-kilometer Regional Park Circular Route offers a different selection of themes: it links orchards and wetlands with artworks, historical landmarks, viewpoints and play areas. Sections can be explored by bike or on foot. Along the Offenbach city and district loop of the Hessian Apple Wine and Orchard Route, eateries serve Hessian specialties; apple wine in a ribbed glass is a typical Hessian drink.

When choosing a hotel in Mainhausen, it helps to distinguish between these levels: local themes range from the Zellhügel and stops along the cultural cycling route to the riverbank of the Main; the additional examples belong to the wider Offenbach destination. This way, you can decide which cultural and landscape themes will matter most during your stay.

Discover more destinations: Zellhausen, Offenbach am Main, Neu-Isenburg, Heusenstamm, Dudenhofen, Dietzenbach, Rodgau, Langen.

See the wider travel overview: Offenbach.