For variety of scenic beauty there are few places to beat the delightful Schweinfurt County .  This is a consequence of the area‘s special location, situated as it is between the terraces of the Franconian vineyards, the valley of the life-giving River Main, the foothills of the Hassberge and Rhön natural parks and the fringes of the Steigerwald.  Each of these varied and individual landscapes has contributed something distinctive to the region. So in the Schweinfurt County the scenery is ever changing, with sunny vineyards giving way to meadow-filled valleys, rolling hills and wide, open vistas. This is a place both for lovers of unspoilt nature and for connoisseurs of the cultural treasures which are to be encountered at almost every turn. It is a pleasing, never stark, landscape which harbours much to entrance the visitor, including important artistic and historical gems.  There are romantic medieval towns such as Grettstadt, Stadtlauringen and Gerolzhofen, with half-timbered buildings in the old Franconian style. The magnificent castles and mansions of the area include Balthasar Neumann‘s imposing Baroque castle at Werneck, the four-winged moated castle at Wetzhausen, the Baroque Zeilitzheim castle, renowned for its cultural events, and Schloss Mainberg, set high above the river, which has become something of a symbol of the Schweinfurt County. The still visible splendour of the old “free imperial villages” of Gochsheim and Sennfeld bears witness to their long and varied history, and the gems in the Treasury at Grafenrheinfeld speak to us also of an illustrious past.

The southern part of the district is the home of the vineyards. Here, sleepy wine-growing villages such as Wipfeld, Stammheim, Falkenstein and Oberschwarzach add another note to the multicoloured landscape of the Schweinfurt County. For centuries the inhabitants of these often very picturesque villages have put their heart and soul into growing the grapes for the fine Franconian wine.  There are all sorts of wine-related things to do – you don’t have to be a connoisseur of wine to enjoy guided tours of the vineyards, heady walks from one vineyard to another, or wine-tastings in settings which range from rustic to elegant in the small vineyards or larger wine-growing estates.

Culinary pleasures are an important part of life in the Schweinfurt County. There is a wide range of dishes to delight the palate – ranging from imaginatively prepared asparagus specialities to “Zwiebelblootz” (an onion cake), and from the light local Franconian cuisine to the famously filling “Schweinfurter Schlachtschüssel” or “butcher’s platter”, which is not only a culinary but also a social experience. Much of the food served in the friendly inns and restaurants is local and very fresh – for example, the tasty asparagus from the small but very fertile area in the south of the Schweinfurt County.

And if surplus calories are taken on board, they can be quickly worked off – there is an irresistible range of leisure and sporting activities on offer. Cycling and walking are enormously popular, and can be enjoyed at their best in the Schweinfurt County. More than 800 kilometres of cycle routes go to make up the extensive cycle network; these routes meet ADFC guidelines and are linked to the area‘s two long-distance cycle routes, the Main Cycleway and the Wern Cycleway. With many different types of terrain to choose from, families with children and leisure cyclists will find just as much to suit them as those who enjoy a more challenging ride. Walking is unfailingly popular and it is easy to see why: the Rhön, the Hassberge, the nearby Steigerwald and the Main valley are wonderful landscapes always ready to unfold new and exciting aspects. Visitors may stumble unexpectedly across imposing castles, intriguing ruins and ancient monasteries; they can savour the panorama of the Steigerwald from the Zabelstein viewpoint and perhaps discover one of the unusual buildings for which the region is noted, as few of them are found elsewhere – the “Gaden”, solidly built fortified churches of great cultural and historical importance, found in many parts of the region.

Culturally the Schweinfurt County also has much to offer. Schloss Zeilitzheim at Kolitzheim has made a name for itself with its high-class cultural events ranging from concerts to poetry readings; organisers of events here set their sights high. Of equally good quality are the concerts held in  Gerolzhofen´s parish church, the so-called “Steigerwalddom”, the International Variety Festival in Sennfeld and the events arranged in the “Alte Kirche” cultural centre in Schonungen. A special highlight in the event calendar in the Schweinfurt County is without doubt the traditional Sömmersdorf passion plays which take place every five years (to be held next in 2008); they are held in high regard far beyond the local area for their artistic excellence and the realism of their presentation.

And, apart from high culture, the inhabitants of Schweinfurt County also know how to celebrate. In the summer months, in particular, festivals of every sort take place throughout the length and breadth of the region.  Folk festivals, wine festivals, historical festivals in the town and villages – full of tradition and often set against the romantic backdrop of the old half-timbered buildings – are high points in the summer calendar of events. Visitors quickly feel at home – they are cheerfully welcomed around the beer table, over a "Schweinfurter Schlachtschüssel" or at wine tastings at the small vineyards or larger wine-growing estates during one of the many wine festivals. The legendary Franconian hospitality is also encountered in the comfortable inns and guesthouses, bed and breakfast rooms and holiday apartments where visitors are made to feel part of the family. The open and friendly manner of the local people has given rise to many a lifelong friendship.