Keen for a break? Why not disappear for a few days into the forest, breathe clear air, count the shades of green and work up a sweat in the mountains? A hike in the Spessart, right on the doorstep of the Rhine-Main region, is just the thing. In one of the largest contiguous forest areas in Germany, you can immerse yourself, forget about time and feel as free as a bird.

Perhaps legends and fairytales come to mind when you think of the Spessart: Old Mother Frost, Snow White and many other famous characters are said to have been seen here. In the unspoilt, wild and mystical landscape, it’s easy to imagine such an encounter, especially when the mist drifts through the woods in the morning. But don't worry about getting caught up in a Brothers Grimm story, because these days you’ll meet warm-hearted people here who love the region, support parts of it as protected areas and maintain the hiking trails. They offer warm welcomes in cosy accommodation, restaurants and cafés, and gladly take care of your wellbeing.

In this Collection, I present you with Spessart Trails 1 and 2, which show off the wonderful landscape in the best way. In three stages, each between 16 and 29 kilometres (10–18 mi) long, you hike over densely forested mountains with old beech groves, gnarled oaks and incredible rock formations. Historic paths, donkey routes and hollow trails for carts and stagecoaches are impressive witnesses to the great importance of the trade routes – you can still find ancient waymarkers scattered throughout the Spessart.

Churches and monasteries are also important junctions in the Spessart. From early on, they were places where people sought contemplation and shelter. Even today, they play a major role in people's lives. And then, of course, there are the impressive castles, palaces and small towns with medieval centres. Sound good? It is. Get involved with the Spessart region and enjoy stepping off the beaten track.

The planning of the stages largely follows the recommended routes. Of course, you can also re-plan the route to suit your taste. However, bear in mind that the Spessart is sparsely populated in large parts. This makes the region particularly attractive yet sometimes a challenge when looking for accommodation or a bus connection. Just look here for accommodation spessart-mainland.de/uebernachten.html and here for public transport bayern-fahrplan.de/en/journey-planner?httpstatus=404&set_language=en