The lost legacy: Discover Bavaria's longest motorway ruins!

The lost legacy: Discover Bavaria's longest motorway ruins!

The "Route 46" is a fascinating and at the same time dark chapter in German motorway history. This unfinished motorway project, which began in the 1930s, was planned as part of the Reich motorway. The construction started in 1937 with the ambitious goal of connecting Fulda to Würzburg. But the time of the Second World War led to the employment of the work in 1940. Today the “route 46” is considered the longest monument of Bavaria and is known as “Lost Place”.

With a length of about 70 kilometers, the "route 46" extends over picturesque landscapes, from the northeastern edge of the Spessart to the Bavarian border into the Hessian Rhön. Until the break in 1939, around 30 kilometers of the route had already been realized. All further plans were rejected as a result of the war, and only part of the route was later used for today's Autobahn 7, the longest German federal highway. Nevertheless, 47 buildings are still preserved along the “route 46”, including bridges, bridge pillars, drainage trenches and stone foundations.

the monument in detail

The "Route 46" has been a listed building since 2003 and is recognized as a technology monument. Your route and the associated buildings are often clearly visible, even if you are now recaptured by nature. Enthusiasts and those interested in history have the opportunity to explore the relics of the past on their own. It should be noted that the “route 46” is not designated as an official hiking trail. Only less known sections are marked than such, so that exploring the route is a challenge.

Some sections run through dense forest and require a good sense of orientation. GPS data are rare, but tools such as OpenStreetMap offer information about the course of the old route. There is an app called AR46 for technology fans, which provides background information on “route 46”.

discoveries and guided tours

Dieter Stockmann, a passionate historian and guide, has led groups to “route 46” for 18 years. In his tours, he researches the 47 buildings that lie on the route. This includes impressive bridges and underpasses, such as an pillar of the unfinished Saale crossing, which today serves as a climbing wall. The remnants of a workers' warehouse and a route construction agency have also been preserved.

Stockmann emphasizes that the route was originally intended for caranderers who should enjoy the landscape of the region. Although the route is crossed by some wild growth and a limited private site, it remains clearly recognizable in many places. So far, Stockmann has not experienced any right -wing extremist groups in his tours, and he has the authority to pronounce space if necessary in order to ensure security and respect for this historical place.

The "Route 46" is not only a testimony to building history, but also a place that stimulates thinking about the past. Again and again she attracts adventurers and those interested in history who want to explore the traces of an unfinished project that was created in an extreme time in German history.

For further information on the planned route and the monuments, a visit to the website Strecke46.de , which offers detailed insights and travel options. While the “route 46” is characterized by its preservation as a monument, it also remains a silent reminder of a time, in the fascination and destruction.