Miltenberg is a medieval town on the Main River in Bavaria's Lower Franconia region. It has a well-preserved old town centre with timber-framed houses, cobblestone streets, and impressive fortifications. The town's location made it an important trade hub for centuries.
Although only a small town, Miltenberg gives visitors a real taste of traditional German culture. Its historic architecture, local wine, and annual festivals provide plenty of opportunities to experience Franconian heritage, and the town also serves as an ideal base for exploring the nearby Odenwald mountain range and Romantic Road route.
View over the town from Miltenberg Castle
Visitors love Miltenberg's old town, which is great for walking and has some of the best half-timbered buildings in Germany. As well as the architecture, there are plenty of other attractions, like wine tastings, river cruises and outdoor activities in the surrounding countryside.
Miltenberg might not have all the big-city perks, but it makes up for it with a chilled-out atmosphere that's perfect for strolling around and taking things easy.
Miltenberg is located in the northwest of Bavaria, in the Franconia region renowned for its wine production and culture.
The town is right on the Main River, a big east-west waterway stretching over 500 kilometres from the Franconian Forest to the Rhine. This made it a busy trade crossroads during the Middle Ages.
For geographic context, Miltenberg is about 75 kilometres southeast of Frankfurt and around the same distance to the west of Würzburg. Other notable nearby towns include Aschaffenburg 39 kilometres to the north and Wertheim around 28 kilometres to the east.
The Odenwald forest and hills are located to the west and, on the other side of the Main River, the Spessart region is situated to the north.
Frankfurt Airport is by far the largest and most convenient international airport for those travelling to Miltenberg.
Distance to Frankfurt Airport: 78km
Distance to Stuttgart Airport: 154km
Distance to Nuremberg Airport: 177km
Stuttgart Airport is another larger destination for flights from around the world, while Nuremberg Airport is a smaller regional option.
The train station in Miltenberg is on the northern bank of the Main river about a 15-minute walk from the old town and offers a regular regional service to Aschaffenburg, where ICE rail connections to other parts of Germany are available, and, in the other direction, to Wertheim.
The A3 motorway passes some way to the north of the town. The easiest access to the motorway network is either via Wertheim to the east or Aschaffenburg to the north. The B47 and B27 regional roads link the town to the A81 running between Würzburg and Heilbronn.
Circular river tours are offered during the summer months which head upstream from Miltenberg to Freudenberg.
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The first documented mention of Miltenberg was in 1237, but settlement in the area stretches back much further - prehistoric ring fortifications dating from around 3000 BC have been found on nearby hills.
The Romans established a military presence here between 160 and 260 AD, building two forts to guard this section of the Limes frontier.
The town's real growth began in the Middle Ages, when its location on the Main made it an important trading centre.
Emperor Charles IV granted Miltenberg special privileges in 1367, including market and warehousing rights, which helped it develop into a thriving trading centre.
View of the town from the Main river
It was during this golden age that the town's iconic half-timbered buildings, which still define its character today, were built. The oldest surviving example dates back to 1339.
The famous Hotel Zum Riesen, said to be Germany's oldest inn, was rebuilt in 1590 and has hosted countless aristocratic guests.
Not all of Miltenberg's history has been peaceful - it suffered during the Peasants' Revolt of 1525 and was partially burnt down in 1552. The Thirty Years' War (1618-1648) was particularly hard, with plagues and troop movements reducing the population by more than half.
The town's fortunes declined after 1816, when it became part of Bavaria and lost its traditional trading privileges. However, this economic stagnation helped to preserve its medieval character.
Today, Miltenberg is renowned for having one of the best-preserved old town centres in Germany, with the market square and surrounding houses being some of the most photographed scenes in the country.
The picturesque Hauptstraße ('Main Street') forms the heart of Miltenberg's old town, lined with well-preserved half-timbered houses and Renaissance-era buildings. it leads up to the Market Square with its Renaissance fountain and the Schnatterloch tower with a gateway leading into the woods and up to Mildenburg Castle.
Timber-framed houses in Miltenberg
Mildenburg castle offers panoramic views of the town and the Main river valley from its elevated position. Originally built in the 12th century, the current look dates from the 16th century when it was restored following war damage. It now houses one of Miltenberg's museums, the Museum Burg Miltenberg with its collection of historic icons and modern art.
The Museum Stadt Miltenberg is based in three houses on the Market Square. The displays cover town and regional history, as well as a collection of glass and porcelain and works from local artists.
Elements of this Gothic-style church date back to the 14th and 15th century although it has been much altered over the years. The church towers, in a Classicist architectural style, date from the 18th century.
The Miltenberg tourist office is located in the town hall on Engelplatz. It is open all year round from Monday to Friday and with reduced hours on Saturdays in the summer season:
Website: miltenberg.info