The best running trails in Main-Taunus-Kreis

With a total length of 527 kilometers, the Main is the longest right-hand tributary of the Rhine and flows as a lifeline through the heart of the entire Rhine-Main region. It officially originates near Kulmbach in Bavaria through the confluence of its two source rivers, the Red Main and the White Main. On its westward journey, the river winds in characteristic loops through Franconia and Hesse, past major metropolises such as Würzburg, Offenbach, and Frankfurt, before finally flowing into the Rhine near Mainz-Kastel (opposite Mainz). For the region, the Main holds immense economic importance as a major shipping route, as it forms a continuous waterway from the North Sea to the Black Sea via the Main-Danube Canal. In addition to its industrial role, the river has been transformed over the past decades into one of the most important areas for local recreation and culture. Kilometers of green spaces stretch along its banks, such as the Frankfurt Mainufer or the promenades in Rüsselsheim and Höchst, offering space for sports, gastronomy, and relaxation. The popular, largely flat Main Cycle Path accompanies the river along its entire length, connecting historic old towns, wine regions, and modern cityscapes. Furthermore, the river significantly shapes the region's climate and nature and serves as a habitat for numerous protected water birds and fish species.

The historic Hattersheim waterworks is located at the end of a striking, cobblestone-paved linden avenue in the middle of a spacious park. The city of Frankfurt had the facility built in 1909 after only nine months of construction to secure the rapidly increasing drinking water demand of the expanding metropolis. The main building, designed by architect Hans Dasen, is now a listed monument. Its architecture combines the playful design language of Art Nouveau with elements of the regional Heimatstil (vernacular style), recognizable by the characteristic wooden shutters and a prominent, widely visible brick chimney. A special technical highlight is hidden inside the engine house: the steam engine from 1927. The 13-meter-high and 330-ton colossal drive unit was once supplied with steam by the adjacent boiler house and kept the pumps running to extract groundwater from wells up to 60 meters deep. Although regular continuous operation was discontinued in the mid-1990s, the historic pumping station, including its suction system, has remained fully functional. It continues to serve the utility company Hessenwasser as an important strategic reserve, which can be quickly activated in the event of bottlenecks or contamination in the network. Through the recent construction of the modern treatment plant on the site, the historic industrial ensemble has taken on an important bridging role for the future of regional drinking water supply.

A state-of-the-art new water treatment plant has been built on the premises of the historic, Art Nouveau-style Hattersheim waterworks (often mentioned in conjunction with the neighboring town of Eddersheim). The finished building is a compact, functional utility structure on the outside, but houses a technological premiere on the inside. The heart of the new building is a highly complex low-pressure reverse osmosis system, which is the first of its kind in the entire network of the regional supplier Hessenwasser.The new construction was realized as a joint project with the planning company of the Regionaltangente West (RTW). The background to the project is the construction of the new rail connection in the Rhine-Main region, which crosses important water protection areas in the Frankfurt Stadtwald. In order to guarantee an uninterrupted emergency water supply for the region and the city of Frankfurt in the event of an accident during the railway construction work, the Hattersheim plant was reactivated and massively expanded. Thanks to the filter technology in the new building, the groundwater there can be treated to excellent drinking water despite its demanding quality.

Stone for the Light (Livia Kubach & Michael Kropp, 2010): The stone sculpture with the many holes you described is this work made of black granite. The artist couple drilled numerous cylindrical openings into the massive stone to make the heavy material permeable to light. Thus, the stone is dematerialized: the incoming light travels through the holes, making the hard core appear alive and fragile from the inside out.

Origin: It comes from the former Hoechst AG dye works (known as the "Red Factory"). Location: It stands in the orchard in Hattersheim, a site within the Rhine-Main Regional Park. Function: The machine was formerly used in the chemical industry to mix pigments and dyes on a large scale. Symbolism: As a technical monument on the Industrial Heritage Trail, it commemorates the importance of the chemical industry to the region. Special Feature: It forms a deliberate visual contrast between massive industrial technology and the surrounding natural landscape of the orchards.

The 5 stations (agriculture, forest, built-up area, flora, fauna and water) of the Regional Park Climate Route offer a small, exciting and informative contribution to the current discussion about climate and climate change.

Wonderful trees from many regions of our planet. Worth a visit at any time of year.

St. Margaret's Chapel (Little Turnip Chapel) Location: The chapel is situated in the vineyards between Mainz-Kastel and Mainz-Kostheim. It is located on the slope of the Turnip Hill, which is why it is commonly known as the Little Turnip Chapel. History: The building recently celebrated its 300th anniversary, as it was built in 1723 according to the inscription. Hiking Trail: It is one of the stops on the well-known Three Chapels Circular Hiking Trail. This trail connects: The Chapel at the Pond Fountain St. Margaret's Chapel (Little Turnip Chapel) The Chapel on the Geisberg (near the Fähncheskreuz)