Speicherz – Hiking and Local History

Speicherz is nestled in a peaceful valley. Local sights include the sandstone church with its distinctive onion dome and the old village bakery by the bridge over the Schmale Sinn. Hiking trails and local buildings offer different options for planning your trip.

Hiking routes for longer and shorter distances

The “Der Mottener” Extratour is listed as 16.5 kilometres long, with a duration of 330 minutes; it runs through the Rhön UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. A tourism article from 2013 described the route as it ran at the time from Speicherz via the Große and Kleine Mottener Haube and back to the starting point. Check current trail conditions before setting out.

A shorter route option is the 4-kilometre nature trail along the Kleine Sinn. It is suitable for hiking and cycling. The trail starts next to the “Zum Biber” inn; it can also be reached via Oberzeller Straße in the Speicherz district. By comparison, the nature trail is 4 kilometres long, while the Extratour is 16.5 kilometres. The Extratour is also listed as taking 330 minutes.

Sights in the village

The sandstone church in Speicherz stands out for its distinctive onion dome. The old village bakery by the bridge over the Schmale Sinn is another local sight. Alongside the hiking options, both buildings add their own cultural touch to the village landscape.

The specific names can help you find your way: the nature trail runs along the Kleine Sinn, while the bakery stands by the bridge over the Schmale Sinn. This helps distinguish the nature and local history themes without presenting them as a single circular route.

Hiking and cultural highlights in the wider destination of Motten

The municipality lies within the Rhön Nature Park in the wider destination of Motten, on the border between Hesse and Bavaria. The “Der Mottner” premium hiking trail has several possible starting points: the car park at the watershed between Motten and Kothen, the village square in Motten, the hikers’ car park by Pilsterfelsen in Kothen, and the centre of Speicherz.

The “Mottner” trail alternates between woodland, meadows and water. It follows historic boundary stones between Bavaria and Hesse and leads to the Pilsterfelsen geotope. There you will find a mineral spring, old weather crosses and a small biotope that has become home to beavers. These trail features are part of the premium hiking route in the wider destination of Motten.

Werberger Stube is also in the wider destination of Motten, in the district of Kothen. Since 1987, it has served as a museum and memorial to the resettled village of Werberg. Exhibits include objects rescued from Werberg Church—the foundation stone, tower cross, bell and baptismal font—as well as old vestments. The collection also includes old photographs of Werberg and farming equipment and tools.

The Kothen Historical Village Walk adds to this history theme. Informative panels offer insights into the village’s past. This volunteer-run project was launched to make Kothen’s varied history visible and accessible to young and old alike; it was carried out with the support of the municipality of Motten and the Brückenauer Rhönallianz.

When planning your trip, note the exact spelling of the similarly named routes: the Extratour is called “Der Mottener,” while the premium hiking trail in the wider destination of Motten is called “Der Mottner.” If you are looking for a hotel in Speicherz, the route length and the kind of combination of hiking and cultural highlights you want can help guide your choice of destination.

For the wider travel overview: Motten.