Discover Obernburg a.Main

Obernburg a.Main lies between the Spessart and Odenwald, where the Mömling and Elsava flow into the Main. Traces of Roman times, medieval buildings and trails through the countryside give the town several distinct facets. When planning your trip, you can therefore choose to focus on the museum and Old Town, go for a hike or explore the distinctive character of the Eisenbach district.

Roman heritage in the museum and Old Town

The Obernburg Roman Museum presents a beneficiarius station, a burial ground and a Jupiter Giant Column as evidence of ancient life at the Roman fort. A separate section also displays the Richelbach track slab: the fossil bears detailed tracks made by archosaurs 247 million years ago. The collection thus brings together Roman finds and a much older glimpse into the history of the Earth.

The Old Town is also closely connected to the Roman past. It stands on the foundations of the fort of the 4th Aquitanian cavalry cohort, built in 83/85 AD. Since 2005, Obernburg has been part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Upper German-Raetian Limes. The “Roman Walk” starts and ends at the Roman Museum. Along the way, it follows the medieval town wall and offers panoramic views across Obernburg, the Main Valley and the Spessart.

Town walls, towers and historic buildings

Remains of the medieval town wall, five Gothic defensive towers and two town gates have survived in Obernburg. Individual buildings offer further glimpses into the past: St. Anne’s Chapel was built over a Roman Mithraeum. In the Catholic parish church of St. Peter and St. Paul, the old church tower, dating from 1581, houses the tomb of Johannes Obernburger. These sites complement the Roman focus with later chapters in the town’s history.

Exploring on foot: trails with different themes

If you are looking for a longer route in addition to the Roman Walk, the approximately 11 km “Eisenbach Loop” passes through orchards and then continues through woodland, where archaeological and historical treasures can be found. The long-distance “Western Limes Trail,” by contrast, takes Roman history as its theme and leads from Obernburg to the Neckar. The trail details make it easy to plan around different distances and themes, without combining them into a single walk.

The 2.3 km nature trail on biodiversity also runs through Obernburg-Eisenbach, with ten stops along the Mümling and adjoining meadows. It covers wetland habitats, forests, orchards, species-rich meadows and hedgerows. Compared with the approximately 11 km Eisenbach Loop, it is the shorter route; the two trails nevertheless have different focuses: habitats and landscape on one, orchards, woodland, and archaeological and historical themes on the other.

Eisenbach: mining history and local collection

Remains of iron ore and basalt quarries can be seen in the woodland of the Eisenbach district. Mining was permanently discontinued in 1924. The history of mining also includes the Chapel of St. Barbara, the patron saint of miners. The local history museum in Eisenbach displays a collection of agricultural and craft tools relating to local history. Together, these sites offer insight into different aspects of the district’s past—from work and crafts to religious heritage.

Cycling around Obernburg

Cyclists can choose from several named routes with different focuses. The “Ei1” mountain biking circuit links Obernburg with the Eisenbach district. The “Obernburg Star” comprises six day tours for leisure and culture cyclists, spanning Roman culture and the age of e-bikes. If you would rather focus your stay on hiking, the Roman Walk, the Eisenbach Loop and the Limes Trail offer three clearly distinct options: a loop starting at the museum, a longer route through meadows and woodland, and a long-distance trail from Obernburg to the Neckar.

Discover more destinations: Frammersbach, Wiesthal, Gemünden am Main, Hasloch, Bischbrunn, Neuhütten, Stockstadt am Main, Zellingen.

For the main travel overview: Main-Spessart.