Altenkunstadt: Kordigast, Culture and History

Kordigast: Two Summits and a Long History

Kordigast has two summits: Großer Kordigast at 536 metres and Kleiner Kordigast at 538 metres. Their names and elevations make for a small contrast: the smaller summit is two metres higher than the larger one. The mountain’s history also reaches far back. Kordigast was demonstrably inhabited by Celts as early as the 5th century BC.

For a family outing, family-friendly hiking trails follow the “Schlauwienix” educational trail to the “Spielwienix” adventure playground on Kordigast. Another discovery awaits beside the Waldfrieden car park: with a little luck, young geologists can find fossils from the Jurassic period there. At the same mountain, an outing along the trail and a glimpse into a much more ancient geological history go hand in hand.

A Place of Remembrance and a Castle Ensemble

The Altenkunstadt Synagogue was built in 1726. Since 1993, the former synagogue has served as a place of remembrance and commemoration, as well as a cultural space for the municipality of Altenkunstadt. The building’s history and its present-day use are intertwined: this historic site continues to play a role in community life.

High above the Main in the Altenkunstadt district of Strössendorf stands a striking, widely visible ensemble of castle and church, framed by tall trees. Strössendorf Castle was built in the 12th century and gradually transformed into the castle seen today. The castle’s architectural history and the distinctive ensemble therefore offer a different aspect of the cultural experience from the place of remembrance and culture in Altenkunstadt.

Hiking Trails and Cycling Route

Kordigast offers different ways to enjoy an active stay: you can follow the family-friendly trails along the educational path or plan a visit to the fossil-hammering site at the Waldfrieden car park. The fossils date from the Jurassic period, while Celtic settlement goes back to the 5th century BC. These are two very different periods that also make the mountain an interesting place for curious explorers.

For a cycling tour, the Ziegenfeldertal Cycle Route runs from Hollfeld, connecting to the Hochweg Fränkische Schweiz, via Kleinziegenfeld and along the Weismain watercourse through the town of Weismain to the Main area between Altenkunstadt and Burgkunstadt. Check route conditions before setting out. The route adds a longer regional connection to the hiking and cultural attractions.

Lichtenfels: Basketry and Urban Culture

Lichtenfels, as a broader travel destination, adds basketry and the Main landscape to the picture. The 14-kilometre Pfad der Flechtkultur (Path of Woven Culture) circular trail connects Lichtenfels and Michelau along nature-rich paths through the Main floodplains. 23 information panels present the history and traditions of basket-making, the basket industry and basket trading in the Upper Main region. Other wickerwork art stops include a willow maze for children near Oberwallenstadt, a willow shell at the river swimming area and a woven tipi at Ortswiesensee Oberwallenstadt.

The old town of Lichtenfels also has its own distinctive character: it has retained its typically Franconian feel; the Bamberg Gate and Kronach Gate are preserved, and parts of the old town wall are still visible. The MainRadweg long-distance cycle route runs right through the old town. The Lichtenfels Basket Market is also held there every year on the third weekend in September. The Lichtenfels City Palace houses municipal collections on the history of beer and brewing, the railway and basket trading; the exhibitions may change.

Basket-making traditions and the old town offer an additional perspective on Lichtenfels as a broader travel destination. This lets you choose your destination based on the experiences you want to shape your stay.

Discover more destinations: Redwitz an der Rodach, Hochstadt am Main, Hochstadt-Marktzeuln, Weismain, Ebensfeld, Marktgraitz, Michelau in Oberfranken, Lichtenfels.

Return to the main travel overview: Lichtenfels.