Day 13. Wurzburg to Gemunden am Main.

Day 13. Wurzburg to Gemunden am Main. 47 km. 2h55.

We had a brisk walk around the city before breakfast. Wurzburg has one of the oldest universities in Germany (14 Nobel prize winners, starting with Wilhelm Rontgen in 1911), as well as the some of the oldest and largest wineries (Juliusspital and Burgerspital Weingut) where Franconian wines were pioneered. The Residence is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This magnificent building has been completely restored after extensive damage in WW2. About 90% of Wurzburg was destroyed in 17 minutes by 225 Lancaster bombers in March 1945, and was rebuilt over the next 25 years.

Our hotel was on the 4th floor of a building close to the Burgerspital. Some might call it quaint, but we thought shabby. Poor internet, weak shower, old carpets, chipped plates and disorganized breakfast in a poky dining room. And they charged a flipping fortune as accommodation was at a premium over this busy weekend. The staff however were friendly.

It was the Wurzburg half-marathon so many roads were closed. We weaved our way between the runners in the rain down to the cycle path on the Main River. The rain soon cleared and we had an easy cycle wedged between the railway line and river, with vineyards and limestone cliffs on either side. From the attractive old town of Karlstadt, the vineyards give way to wheat and canola fields.

We organized a Bettundbike (B&B for cyclists) in Gemunden from our hotel in Wurzburg (got the hotel manager to phone for us) as looking for accommodation in the rain is not much fun. As it turned out the rain mostly stayed away. A relaxed day after the last week of riding and very pleasant accommodation.