Fruit route (west loop)

Starting from the red wine and Imperial Palace city of Ingelheim, the recommendation is to ride the short variant of the large fruit route clockwise, which offers a pleasant mix of ascents and descents with beautiful views and at the right time provides an opportunity for a stop and sightseeing as well as a nice finish in the small town of Gau-Algesheim.

First, the 30 km long route leads out of the city along the narrow Selz towards the old district of Ober-Ingelheim. This is marked by the Ohrenbrücker Gate, a well-restored gate of the medieval city wall. Shortly after the gate comes a street change towards Westerberg. From there, the route leads away from roads on well-developed paths and sections of a light railway track that formerly served vegetable transport, through the quiet Selztal. The next destinations are the wine villages Groß-Winternheim, Schwabenheim and Stadecken-Elsheim with the Selztal Cathedral, beautiful market squares and alleys as well as possibilities for stops also at midday. On weekends this route is very popular and can become quite busy. But with mutual consideration, this is no problem.

Scenically, this section is typical for the Selztal and offers beautiful views of Westerhaus Castle on the ridge of the Westerberg. In Stadecken-Elsheim there is a lovely resting place under the protection of the ruins of the Eleven Thousand Virgins Mill by the Selz. Here the Selztal cycle path and the Fruit route split. A steep climb follows, which is rewarded by the Wingert swing with a shelter before the village of Engelstadt. Afterwards, it goes over the plateau to Ober-Hilbersheim and from there into the next valley west of the Westerberg. Here the course of the Welz brook accompanies us.

Shortly before Appenheim you reach a beautiful renaturation area with a pond, where a further rest in the landscape is offered before proceeding with views over orchards, the Rhine plain and the Rheingau into the small town of Gau-Algesheim. In the town itself, the Rheinhessen bicycle museum and the baroque market square invite you to visit, have an ice cream or a small city tour. Fresh fruit and vegetables or wine for home can be purchased here in one of the farm shops, from the fruit vending machine or one of the wine bars. Ingelheim also offers equally good opportunities. At the foot of the Westerberg, partly with a view of the Bismarck Tower, which towers above, it goes back in a straight line to the center and the station of Ingelheim.

The reverse direction is recommended for those who plan to finish in Ingelheim and want to visit the Imperial Palace or the castle church with the old town district Ober-Ingelheim. Counterclockwise, the route towards Gau-Algesheim holds a long ascent in stages up to Appenheim and from Nieder-Hilbersheim to Ober-Hilbersheim, which is then rewarded by a beautiful descent with great views into the Selztal and up to the Mainz mountain from the Wingert swing near Engelstadt. For the sightseeing tour at the end, a detour from the Ohrenbrücker Gate into the old town district towards the castle church and then into the district of Nieder-Ingelheim to the Imperial Palace is recommended. From there, the Mainzer Strasse leads past the winegrowers' cellar, the seat of the tourist information and a wine bar with a comprehensive selection of Rheinhessen wines back into the town center and to the station.