{"id":16019,"date":"2025-04-15T15:46:36","date_gmt":"2025-04-15T13:46:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/rheinhessenblog.de\/?p=16019"},"modified":"2026-03-30T16:31:20","modified_gmt":"2026-03-30T14:31:20","slug":"experience-the-amiche-cycle-path-cycling-on-old-railroad-tracks-and-following-in-zuckmayers-footsteps","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/rheinhessenblog.de\/en\/den-amiche-radweg-erleben-radfahren-auf-alten-bahntrassen-und-den-spuren-zuckmayers-folgen\/","title":{"rendered":"Experience the Amiche cycle path - cycling on old railroad lines and following in Zuckmayer's footsteps"},"content":{"rendered":"
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The Amiche cycle path now leads from Bodenheim via Nierstein and Nackenheim where railroad lines once lay. The 33 km long circular tour runs through pretty wine villages, sun-drenched vineyards and is not only interesting for train fans. We also follow in the footsteps of the Rhine-Hessian writer Carl Zuckmayer on this cycle tour on the occasion of the Zuckmayer theme year.<\/strong><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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My service tip: Cycling without your own bike: how it works in Laubenheim<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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Although the official starting point of the route is in Bodenheim, we start in nearby Laubenheim. There's a very practical reason for this: we don't have our own e-bikes. Good that there is a Mainz Mobility bike station<\/a> and bikes can be rented easily with the meinRad app. And it's as quick as this: register, select the bike in the app, unlock it and cycle off. We opt for two pedelecs, which are very affordable at 19 euros per person for the whole day. If you are traveling by train or car and have your bikes with you, it is best to start the bike tour at Bodenheim train station. There are plenty of parking spaces available.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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Riding is much easier with electric assistance<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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Climb aboard please! Here comes railroad nostalgia<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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From Bodenheim, we follow the cycle path signs with the small steam locomotive past extensive vineyards and farmland. With a bit of luck, you can look over the vintners' shoulders as they prune the vines.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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The little steam locomotive shows us the way]<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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In Gau-Bischofsheim, we come across the first relic of the former Amiche railroad line, the station building. Like so many station buildings in Rheinhessen, it is unmistakably recognizable by its red and yellow clinker brick fa\u00e7ade, which we will encounter several more times along the way. Where passengers once waited for their train, there is now a play and toddler group.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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The old station building in Gau-Bischofsheim<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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Just a few meters further on, old railroad tracks are a reminder of the former railroad line, which were only uncovered in 2017.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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The section of track is a relic of the past<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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But what is the story behind the name Amiche? No one can say exactly where the name comes from. Some people believe that it is a French remnant. The name Amiche is said to derive from the French word ami, meaning friend. An Annemarie could also have served as the namesake. In any case, it is clear that the development of the railroad line brought significant advantages. Did the famous Rhine-Hessian writer Carl Zuckmayer also travel on the Amiche? We strongly suspect so, as the railroad line was opened in 1896, the year he was born. It ran from Bodenheim to Selzen; the route of the Rdweg is largely identical.<\/p>

A little later, between Harxheim and Selzen, we notice that we are on a former railroad embankment because the path runs mostly straight ahead and we ride a few meters above the fields. To the left and right, the path is lined with slowly sprouting trees and bushes, giving us the feeling that we are riding through a green tunnel. Incidentally, there is a lot going on on this glorious spring day. Whether walkers, joggers or cyclists: the people of Rheinhessen are taking advantage of the great weather for sporting activities.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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Off you go through the green tunnel<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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Time for a break at Jordan's Unterm\u00fchle<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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We arrive about a third of the way along the route Jordan's Unterm\u00fchle<\/a> in K\u00f6ngernheim. In addition to the wellness hotel, the beautifully renovated half-timbered farmhouse also houses a wine bar, a caf\u00e9 and a bar. Perfect for your first break. Conveniently, there is also a bike service station with various tools and a battery charging station in case the tires need a little more air or a screw needs tightening. After we have parked the e-bikes and locked them in the app, we enjoy a refreshing drink in the cozy fireplace room. We watch the pheasants cavorting around the property. It's a great place to stay. We'd love to come back and spend a whole day at the in-house spa next time. But now we want to move on, because we still have a few more kilometers on the railroad tracks ahead of us.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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