Best river trails in Hessian Spessart Nature Park

The Hessian Spessart Nature Park was established in 1963 and covers an area of over 740 km². Over half of the park is forested - mixed forest and large stands of oak and beech in particular can be found in the low mountain range landscape. The Hessian Spessart borders the Bavarian state border in the south, where it continues as the Bavarian Spessart. The red sandstone makes it and its flora so special and sets it apart from its neighbouring areas. Bilberry and woodruff can be found on the ground, black knapweed and woodland rampion can be found on the wetter forest edges and in the northern part there are many orchids and other rare plants that grow on the shell limestone grassland. The extensively utilised grassland areas, forest meadows, rough pastures and very species-rich meadows of the mountainous region are another special feature of the nature park. The rare chess flower even has an annual festival dedicated to it, the Altengronau Chess Flower Festival in April. The extensive woodland areas are home to red deer and wild boar, as well as foxes, wildcats and badgers. The beaver has also returned to the stream valleys. In addition to kites, falcons and long-eared owls, the woodpeckers that gave the Spessart its name (Spechts-Hardt) are particularly numerous with great spotted, black, middle-spotted, green and grey-headed woodpeckers.

Plant lovers, animal watchers, hikers and bikers, families with children - everyone can discover the nature park in their own way or together as part of the annual programme.