The best traffic-free bike rides around Kriftel

The Hochheim vineyards are world-famous and beautiful. When during the Victorian era (mid, late 19th century) Riesling from Germany was the most coveted and expensive wine in the world (even ahead of Burgundy and Bordeaux), it was also the latest "craze" in England. Due to the German roots of the English royal house and the connections to Hochheim, "Hochheimer" became synonymous with German Riesling. As the English tended to pronounce "ch" as "k", "Hochheimer" quickly became "Hockheimer" and ultimately a short form "the Hock". Hock is still a fixed term in English, traditional wine bars today.

It's always nice to let your gaze wander over the vineyards.

An incredibly beautiful spot and worth every detour. A wonderful path leads directly along the water, and the water itself invites you to swim (but unfortunately it is forbidden).

The Main, with a total length of around 527 kilometers, is the longest right-bank tributary of the Rhine and one of Germany's most important rivers. It is formed by the confluence of two headwaters, the Red Main (Roter Main) from the Franconian Jura and the White Main (Weißer Main) from the Fichtelgebirge, which unite near Kulmbach in Upper Franconia. From there, the river meanders in distinct loops in a westerly direction through the federal states of Bavaria, Baden-Württemberg, and Hesse. The characteristic river bends shape scenically attractive regions such as the Franconian Wine Land or the Spessart, before the river finally flows into the Rhine at Mainz-Kostheim, opposite Mainz.The Main plays an outstanding role in the economy and transport in Central Europe as a major international shipping route. Through the Main-Danube Canal, completed in 1992, it is part of a continuous European waterway that connects the North Sea with the Black Sea via the Rhine and the Danube. The river thus serves as a lifeline for freight transport across the continent. Along its course lie important economic and industrial centers, above all the metropolis of Frankfurt am Main, whose famous skyline would be unthinkable without the picturesque backdrop of the river and its numerous bridges and promenades.In addition to its economic function, the Main has inestimable value for ecology and recreation. Its bank zones offer important habitats for a species-rich animal and plant world. For the population of the adjacent cities and communities, the river serves as a central local recreation area. Well-developed cycle paths, such as the popular Main Cycle Path (Main-Radweg), accompany the entire course of the river and attract numerous cyclists and hikers every year. In addition, water sports, excursion boats, and lively river promenades characterize the image of the river in the urban centers and make it a meeting point for sport and culture.

Thanks to the helper from RC Hattersheim who tirelessly warned about the hairpin bend.

Rettershof is a historic estate in the Fischbach district of Kelkheim, now a popular local recreation and excursion destination offering restaurants, equestrian activities, nature, and events. Originally, the property was founded in 1146 as the Premonstratensian Retters Monastery; after its dissolution in 1559, it developed into an agricultural estate with various owners. In the 19th century, the Englishman Frederik Arnold Rodewald acquired the estate and had a grand manor house built in the English Tudor style between 1884 and 1885. This building still forms the heart of the complex and has been owned by the city of Kelkheim since the early 1980s. Today, Rettershof comprises: • the Rettershof Castle Hotel with its historic charm, • the country inn "Zum fröhlichen Landmann" (The Merry Farmer), • a modern equestrian center with an indoor riding arena and paddocks, • expansive meadows, orchards, and woodlands. Rettershof also serves as a venue for markets, festivals, concerts, and harvest and cultural events, attracting many visitors from the region. In short: Rettershof combines medieval monastery and estate history with a modern recreational and cultural landscape – ideal for walks, horseback riding, events, and excursions in the Taunus region.

Added to the collection: komoot.com/de-de/collection/3600632/-naturdenkmaeler-besondere-baeume-und-weitere-schaetze-der-natur

The sculpture "The Circle" opens to the east, towards the light. Sculptor Thomas Link defines this direction by the axis from the sound stele in the center of the circle to the pair of steles outside. These cast long shadows, with a bright line at their center. The sound stele opposite opens to the wind, transforming the moving air into sound. The panoramic trail is part of the regional park's circular route and connects the Bad Weilbach park with the wine village of Wicker over a distance of almost 1.5 kilometers. On clear days, the view extends as far as the Odenwald forest. In the Middle Ages, the "Kasteler Landwehr," the border and defensive fortification protecting the territory of the Electorate of Mainz, ran along this route. In the summer of 1998, five artists created five large stone sculptures along the panoramic trail. The regional park society invited not only Thomas Link from Issing near Munich, who created the circle of stones from basalt, to this plein air sculpture symposium. Hubert Maier, Gerard Höweler, Georg Hüter, and Ingrid Hornef also used the six-week project period to create charismatic works. The goal of the international open-air artists' workshop was not only to enhance the inspiring surroundings with monumental objects. The public also had the opportunity to engage in conversation with the artists during the creative process. This participation and understanding of the artists' thoughts during the creation of the objects ensured the project's great success. Link, for example, explains: "What the eye sees in the surroundings—the movement of grasses and leaves—is simultaneously experienced by the viewer as a sound that swells and recedes with the breath of the wind." The spheres rest around a central point. They bear semi-circular depressions, whose positions indicate directions in space. "This sphere is dedicated to the earth, to the interplay of darkness and incoming light." Each sphere is part of the whole and yet stands alone. Beyond this, the view extends into the landscape, changing from place to place in a circular pattern. “The stones rest, gathered around the center,” they point to direction and space: “Into this structure, humankind enters and finds its place.” None of the stones, not even those of the other artists, are placed by chance along the path. All reflect the landscape in which and for which they were created. It is about knowledge and feeling, about culture and nature, about noise (including aircraft noise) and silence, about the hustle and bustle of life and about finding peace. [The following appears to be a separate, unrelated sentence fragment:] [The following appears to be a separate, unrelated sentence fragment:] [The following appears to be a separate, unrelated sentence fragment:] [The following appears to be a separate, unrelated sentence fragment:] None of the stones, not even those of the other artists, are placed by chance along the path. All of them reflect the landscape in which and for which they were created. It is about knowledge and feeling, about culture and nature, about noise (including aircraft noise) and silence, about hurried life and about finding peace. [The following appears to be a separate, unrelated sentence fragment:] ...