Poppenhausen: Way of St. James, Cycle Routes and St. James’ Church
Accommodation in Poppenhausen
Poppenhausen is a destination for days that combine activity and culture: the Way of St. James from Bad Kissingen to Würzburg passes through the village, as does the Wern Cycle Route. There is also a well-signposted network of hiking and cycling routes around Poppenhausen, guided tours, and St. James’ Parish Church as a specific stop along the pilgrimage route. When choosing a holiday apartment in Poppenhausen, your plans for the days may be the deciding factor: pilgrimage and a visit to the church, cycling, or a guided introduction to the community’s history and local heritage.
Routes with different focuses
The Lower Franconian section of the Way of St. James from Bad Kissingen to Würzburg passes through Poppenhausen. The stretch through the Upper Wern Valley is about 30 kilometres long. If you are travelling on foot, you can include a visit to the church in your route planning: St. James’ Parish Church can be visited along this section. There are several pilgrim-friendly hostels in the district of Schweinfurt along the route where you can take a break. Check their availability before your trip.
Cycling also offers a choice of different focuses. The northern route passes through Poppenhausen, is 29.5 kilometres long and offers a total of 42 wayside shrines to discover. It therefore combines route selection with a specific cultural theme. The Wern Cycle Route is 78 kilometres long in total and runs from Stengelsmühle via Poppenhausen to Fuchsmühle. Poppenhausen railway station is a convenient place to start or finish your cycling tour. The Wern Cycle Route is family-friendly and largely flat; it runs mostly on separate farm and cycle paths, some paved and some gravelled.
Guided discoveries in the area
The municipality’s programme of guided cycling tours includes the 7-Mill Cycle Tour; guided hikes include the Wolfspfotenlpfad. Local guides also offer opportunities to learn about the community’s history and local heritage on foot or by bicycle. These guided tours complement the network of hiking and cycling routes around Poppenhausen, which is signposted for recreation and exploration. The different activities have different focuses: a themed cycling tour, a guided hike, or exploring local history on foot or by bike.
St. James: a visit and the church’s history
St. James’ Parish Church can be visited along the Way of St. James. Its tower dates from 1517; the choir and nave were rebuilt in 1743. The year 1743 is also given for the Catholic Church of St. James. The dates make the different construction phases clear: the tower is older than the choir and nave, which were rebuilt in 1743. A visit to the church can therefore be seen both as a stop along the pilgrimage route and as a glimpse into Poppenhausen’s architectural history.
The culture of wayside shrines in the district of Schweinfurt
The Franconian Wayside Shrine Centre in Egenhausen, in the district of Schweinfurt, offers a regional addition. Its modern permanent exhibition on the cultural history of wayside shrines covers around 90 square metres. This complements the view of the 42 wayside shrines on the northern route with a different perspective: in Poppenhausen, a route passes by wayside shrines; in Egenhausen, their cultural history is the focus of an exhibition. The district of Schweinfurt also offers plenty of options for cyclists: its cycle network covers more than 800 kilometres. Schweinfurt 360° Tourist Information offers cycling and hiking maps as well as suggested tours; digital maps are also available on its website.
Discover more destinations: Geldersheim, Stadtlauringen, Oberschwarzach, Bergrheinfeld, Üchtelhausen, Schweinfurt, Dittelbrunn, Wasserlosen.
Return to the main travel overview: Schweinfurt.
