Taubertal Festivals, Concerts, Hiking, Cycling, Boating & Spas
Germany’s Tauber Valley has outdoor activities including hiking, cycling, and boating balanced by cultural events, concerts, festivals, and Bad Mergentheim’s spas.
The Tauber Valley is popular with hikers and cyclists while much of the Tauber River can also be used for canoeing and kayaking. Cultural events are frequently arranged with several towns hosting cultural festivals in summer. The spa facilities in Bad Mergentheim offers more relaxing options.
Cultural Events in the Taubertal
Bad Mergentheim has the full cultural program usually associated with a spa resort. The Kurkonzert is held weekdays (except Tuesday) at 3:30 and 7:30 pm in the Wandelhalle or in the park. On weekends, the more elaborate Promenadenkonzert is at 10:30 am. Concerts are occasionally held in the Deutschordenschloss.
Annually, end July to early August, the Schloss in Weikersheim hosts the Jeunesses Musicales Deutschland, tel 07934-99360, a concert series by young musicians. In addition to classical music, an opera is staged every second year.
The Hohenloher Kultursommer, Kulturstiftung Hohenlohe, Allee 17, 74653 Künzelsau, tel 07940-18-373, includes around 60 concerts during summer in various historical venues in the region
The Festspiele Röttingen is held annually from mid-July to mid-August on the open-air stage of Burg Brattenstein. Actors from Vienna perform mostly light plays but musical concerts are also held.
Wine Festivals in the Taubertal
Wine festivals are held in many towns in the Tauber Valley, including Lauda-Königshofen (May, June, and July), Bad Mergentheim (June and October), Weikersheim (April), Röttingen (June), and Creglingen (July).
Outdoor Adventures in the Sweet Tauber Valley
Town Walks in Taber Valley Towns
The tourist office in Bad Mergentheim conducts free guided tours of the old town every Friday at 3 pm. From April to October, a tour is also available on Saturday at 2 pm that includes a visit to the Deutschordenschloss.
The tourist office also has a pamphlet for a 3000-Schritte (3,000 Steps) self-guided tour via 42 sights in town.
The tourist office in Weikersheim conducts free guided tours of the old town on Saturday evenings at 6 pm from mid-July to mid-October.
The Sonnenuhren-Rundweg (Sun Dials Route), is a 2-km/1.2-mile hike that passes by more than 30 sundials in the small village Röttingen.
Countryside Hikes in the Tauber Valley
The Tauber Valley is ideal for countryside hiking. Distances between towns are generally small making walking to the next town a worthy option for daytrips. Rad- und Freizeittouristik, Manfred Skazel, Postfach 1373, 97933 Tauberbischofsheim, tel 09341-896-9396, arranges multiple-day hikes with luggage forwarding.
The Tilman Riemenschneider Wanderweg is a two-stage route from Creglingen to Rothenburg ob der Tauber and back. The recommended first stage (24 km/15 miles) is clearly the more interesting: it passes by four of Riemenschneider’s works (Creglingen, Detwang, and two in Rothenburg).
Several guided hiking tours are offered from May to October by the tourist office in Bad Mergentheim – advance telephonic reservations are required. Every Monday at 2:30 pm circular hikes of around 7 km/4 miles depart to various sights in the surrounding countryside. Every Thursday a bus takes hikers out of town at 1:30 pm for longer hikes back to base.
By Bicycle along the Tauber River
Several long-distance cycling routes run through or cross the Tauber Valley. The classic route is the around 100-km/60 miles Liebliches Taubertal route that connects Wertheim and Rothenburg ob der Tauber. A similar distance is the first section of the Romantic Road cycling route, which runs from Würzburg and joins the above route at Tauberbischofsheim before continuing to Rothenburg and beyond.
Bad Mergentheim offers guided cycling tours from May to October on Friday at 2:30 pm and Wednesday at 7 pm.
Rad- und Freizeittouristik, Manfred Skazel, Postfach 1373, 97933 Tauberbischofsheim, tel 09341-896-9396, arranges multiple-day cycling tours in the region.
Bicycle rentals are available in Bad Mergentheim from Bikecenter Mott, Krumme Gasse 13, tel 07931-52-021 and Zweiradfachgeschäft Fischer, Obere Mauergasse 61, tel 07931-7763; in Lauda from Fahrrad Mott, Kurt Mott, Rathausstraße 3-7, tel 09343-8039; in Weikersheim from Velo Dieter Seyfer, Schäftersheimer Straße 44, tel 07934-297; and in Röttingen from the Verkehrsamt, tel 09338-972-855.
In-Line Skating in the Tauber Valley
Two in-line skating routes ranging from 4 to 12 km/2.5 to 7.5 miles go from Tauberbischofsheim in the Tauber Valley. As the route passes through the town more than once, the distance can easily be shortened.
Röttingen also has two routes: 4 km/2.5 miles to Bieberehren and back or 8 km/5 miles to Weikersheim.
Horse-Drawn Postal Coach Rides in Bad Mergentheim
Rides in an authentic two-horse, yellow postal coach from 1875 are possible in Bad Mergentheim. The coach departs from the Deutschordenschloss and has space for up to four adults. Costs are €40 per hour. Reservations via the tourist office.
Canoeing & Kayaking on the Tauber River
Boat rentals are available from Bootsvermietung Gerd Drescher, Bad Mergentheim an der Schwimmbadbrücke, tel 07931-2229 and from Gästehaus Roswitha Boger, Amalienstraßr 7, Königshofen, tel 09343-8660.
Spas in Bad Mergentheim
Although the medical qualities of the mineral springs in Bad Mergentheim are highly praised, it is also possible to simply enjoy the warm waters at the Bade- und Wellnesspark Solymar, Erlenbachweg, tel 07931-965-680. It has five pools ranging in temperature from 27 to 34°C/80 to 93°F, wave machines, slides, facilities suitable for small children, and a range of saunas and steam baths.
Opening hours are Monday from 1 to 6 pm, Tuesday to Friday from 10 am to 10 pm, and weekends from 9 am to 7:30 pm. Admission is from €8 for two hours without sauna to €14 for a full day with all facilities.
Further Destinations & Information on the Tauber Valley in Germany
- Introduction and Transportation in the Liebliches Taubertal
- Wertheim – Outlet mall shopping at the confluence of the Tauber and Main Rivers.
- Tauberbischofsheim & Lauda Königshofen – Half-Timbered Townscapes
- Bad Mergentheim – Old Town, Spa & Stuppacher Madonna
- Deutschordenschloss – Teutonic Order Castle in Bad Mergentheim
- Weikersheim (Renaissance Schloss) & Röttingen
- Creglingen – Riemenschneider Altar & Thimble Museum
- Hotels & Restaurants – Where to Sleep and Eat in the Tauber Valley
- Tauber Valley Cultural Events and Outdoor Adventures
