Lichtenfels: Basketry Town on the Main

Lichtenfels, known as Germany’s Basketry Town, is shaped by its wickerwork culture. At the same time, the Franconian old town, historic city gates and paths along the Main are among the town’s many facets. You can tailor your stay to your interests, whether that means exploring local history, cycling or walking through the Main floodplains.

Wickerwork culture and paths through the Main floodplains

The 14 km Erlebnisrundweg Pfad der Flechtkultur (Basketry Culture Trail) connects Lichtenfels and the basket-making village of Michelau on nature-rich paths through the Main floodplains. The route explicitly links the two places through the theme of wickerwork culture. Its length gives you a concrete point of reference when deciding whether this circular trail suits your stay.

There is also a selection of cycling tours: the Lichtenfels cycling brochure features ten circular routes between 20 and 65 km long. They all start and finish in Lichtenfels. If you like to choose between shorter and longer cycling routes when planning your holiday, this start and finish point is a helpful factor when deciding on a holiday apartment in town.

The MainRadweg runs right through Lichtenfels and its surrounding area. Another option on the water is the boat touring route: its first section runs from Michelau i.OFr. via Lichtenfels to the historic market town of Ebensfeld. There are no obstructing weirs along the 35 km stretch of the Main between Lichtenfels and Bamberg. This gives you two different ways to experience the Main alongside the cycling routes: a cycle route through the town and a designated route for boat touring.

Old town, gates and town palace

The old town has preserved its typically Franconian character. Groups can arrange guided tours of the medieval town centre in advance through the Tourist Information Office. This is one way to explore the town together with a guide; registration should be made beforehand.

Historic buildings include the Upper Gate Tower and the Lower Gate, also known as the Bamberg Gate. The Upper Gate Tower has shaped the townscape for centuries and is one of the town’s oldest buildings. The core of the Lower Gate, or Bamberg Gate, dates back to the 14th century. The Catholic parish church of the Assumption of Mary can also be dated: its oldest part is the tower, which dates to the 14th or 15th century.

The town palace houses municipal collections on the history of beer and brewing, the railway and the basket trade. The palace is also used for conferences and seminars, as well as for cultural and gastronomic purposes. The subjects on display range from local basketry traditions to the history of beer and the railway.

An annual event

The Lichtenfels Basket Market takes place every year on the third weekend in September. If you would like to plan your trip around this event, you can take that weekend into account when arranging your holiday. The Basket Market adds a recurring annual event to the town and walking-route experiences available year-round.

More places to include in your travel plans

If you would like to include places other than Lichtenfels in your travel plans, you can find Marktgraitz, Ebensfeld, Hochstadt am Main, Altenkunstadt, Redwitz an der Rodach, Weismain, Michelau In Oberfranken and Hochstadt-Marktzeuln.

For the main travel overview: Lichtenfels.