Maidbronn is a small district of Rimpar, tucked between fields and the Maidbronn forest, with the Pleichach stream running through it. It's 10 to 15 minutes by car from Würzburg's main station, but it feels like a different world: no city noise, no main road outside the door, just meadows, woodland and water right at your doorstep. Exactly what you and your dog need after a long drive.
When you arrive at our Heimatgefühl holiday apartment, the bowl is already filled with water, and a small dog corner with a blanket is ready for your travelling companion. These aren't just marketing gestures; we've learnt from experience that having water to hand is the moment that matters most after a car journey. You unload the boot, the dog catches his breath, and then you head out into the fields together.
We've been letting our Heimatgefühl holiday apartment since 2018, and in that time we've welcomed dog families of every size, from dachshund puppies to big German Shepherds, from city dwellers travelling with a dog for the first time to seasoned hikers crossing Franconia on foot. What we've learnt from that: dog owners don't need elaborate hotel concepts. They need paths right from the door, a relaxed host, and rules that don't turn every bark into a problem. You'll find pictures of the apartment in our gallery; if you're travelling with a cat instead, take a look at Cat-Friendly Apartment.
What we love about Maidbronn, and what our dog-owning guests almost always love too by the third day: the paths practically start at our front door. You don't need to get in the car with your dog, drive somewhere and hunt for a walkers' car park. Instead, you turn around once after your morning coffee and decide, depending on your mood: a quick loop by the stream today, or the longer tour towards Gramschatzer Wald?
Over the years we've worked out eight routes that we walk ourselves on a regular basis. They differ in length, terrain and difficulty, and are chosen so there's something for every type of dog: an older dachshund does well on the stream loop, while an active Border Collie is better suited to the longer circular route or Gramschatzer Wald. Here's the overview, with an honest difficulty rating:
15 to 20 min · approx. 1.5 km · gravel/meadow path · water stop for the dog
You're at the Pleichach within 2 minutes. We walk along the stream towards Rimpar, and the dog can wade into the shallow water. A nice quick loop straight after you arrive.
approx. 32 min · 2.3 km · village road and farm track · mostly flat
Down the Steigstraße and left, past St Afra's church and the cemetery, then along the fish ponds. Left over the stream, up along the field, and back down the Steigstraße from above. Keep the dog on the lead in the village, and especially by the ponds, where waterfowl nest.
approx. 56 min · 3.9 km · field and riverside path · mostly flat
The longest loop you can do without a car. Up the Steigstraße and further north, then in a wide arc along the Pleichach towards Rimpar as far as the Veitsmühle, and back through Maidbronn. There's water along the stream on the way, and shade on the riverside stretch.
60 to 90 min · approx. 4 to 6 km · unpaved farm tracks · hardly any traffic
Left onto the farm track behind the fire station, and from there it's just farmers on tractors. Explicitly listed as dog-friendly on dogsplaces.de. Here, a dog that's reliably recalled and won't chase wildlife can run off the lead over long stretches, except from March to mid-July. Large dogs over 50 cm at the shoulder must stay on the lead all year round on some of Maidbronn's farm tracks. If you fancy it, you can keep walking on towards Estenfeld.
90 to 120 min · approx. 6 km · forest floor, small streams, ponds · plenty of shade
The classic choice for warm days: forest shade, several streams to drink from, and a few ponds along the way. Finishes in Rimpar, or loop back to Maidbronn instead.
2.5 to 3 hours · approx. 10 km · signposted · along the Pleichach
A signposted circular route along the Pleichach through three villages. A half-day highlight for active dogs. Optionally ends in Versbach.
2.5 hours · approx. 6.5 km · circular route · views as far as the Steigerwald
Up to the Kobel via the wine discovery trail, a small viewing platform with a panoramic outlook. Easily manageable for dogs, with a few short tarmac stretches between the vineyards. As a bonus for you: Rimpar wine at the end.
3 to 4 hours · 8 to 11 km · 16 marked forest circuits · 10 minutes by car
10 minutes by car to Gramschatz, or the Ochsengrund or Talwald car parks. If you want to round off the day: stop for a bite at Waldhaus Einsiedel (dog-friendly dining).
Tip: at check-in, we leave a small map with the routes out for you. If you're not sure which one suits your dog, just ask; we know our paths well.
Let us know your preferred week. We'll check availability and get back to you within 24 hours, happily with a route recommendation suited to your dog too.
Send a no-obligation enquiryBetter specific than flowery. So you know exactly what to expect before you even start packing:
45 m² in the main apartment (up to 60 m² with the additional room), for 1 to 6 guests. Two separate bedrooms, each with a 1.8 m bed, a living room with a sofa bed, and a travel cot on request. Kitchen with dishwasher, microwave, oven and ceramic hob. Bathroom with a rain shower. The inward-facing balcony with a privacy screen looks out onto greenery: your dog lies beside you, and nobody can see in from the street. You'll find every picture in the gallery.
€20 per night per dog, a small additional cleaning fee. No hidden costs. More than one dog? Just let us know in advance; it's usually no problem.
Würzburg is 10 to 15 minutes away by car, or just under an hour by bus 450 plus the city tram. If you're travelling with a dog, you'll usually take your own car, since you want flexibility along the way and your dog knows the car. You reach Würzburg's city centre via the Schweinfurter Straße and the ring roads. Parking is tight in the old town, but along the Main riverbank (Friedensbrücke, Talavera) you'll find spaces that work well with a dog too.
The riverside walk along the Main is the classic choice for dog owners in Würzburg. Wide paths run along both banks, shaded by plane trees in summer and sheltered from the wind in winter. From the Old Main Bridge, it's upstream towards Heidingsfeld or downstream towards Talavera: both flat routes, good for older dogs too. Along the way you'll find a string of cafés and beer gardens with outdoor seating, most of which allow dogs under the table. If you only need a short break from browsing the shops, the Ringpark is enough: a green belt running right around the old town, where plenty of other dog owners meet, and a half-hour loop is easy to manage.
For a bit of height and a view, the climb up the Stationsweg to the Käppele is worth it: a pilgrimage church on the Nikolausberg, reachable from the riverbank in 25 to 30 minutes on foot. The steps are lined with 77 life-size figures and 14 small chapels, an extraordinary Baroque ensemble, and a decent workout for your dog. At the top, you look out over Würzburg, the Main and across to the Marienberg Fortress. In summer, bring plenty of water for your dog, as the Stationsweg is mostly in full sun.
If you prefer something more spread out, head into the Würzburg vineyards around the Marienberg Fortress. Rows of vines alternate with small patches of woodland here, and there are circular routes for any time of day, from a half-hour stroll to a three-hour tour with views as far as the Steigerwald. Dogs are welcome, though on the lead. Especially during the breeding and fawning season from March to July, and near paths used by walkers, please keep your dog on the lead consistently, so fawns and ground-nesting birds get their peace. You can reach the Marienberg Fortress itself on foot from the Old Main Bridge or from the Käppele; the lead is compulsory within the fortress grounds, while the paths around it are quieter, with patches of woodland offering shade.
Hofgarten at the Residence: dogs are allowed there on the lead, but it's often very busy on high tourist days. We'd recommend the vineyards or the riverbank instead.
Hopefully you'll never need this. But it's worth knowing, just in case:
Dr. med. vet. Thomas Schober
Adam-Bausenwein-Straße 11, 97222 Rimpar
Phone: +49 9365 9875
Phone, Würzburg: 0931 69017
You'll be put through to one of six practices on duty.
Central number for Lower Franconia: 01805 00 9682
Friday 6 pm to Monday 6 am.
Please always call ahead rather than just turning up, as the emergency service works by appointment. A printed card with all the numbers is in the apartment.
We've been letting our Heimatgefühl holiday apartment since 2018. At first mainly to friends and acquaintances, and today to guests from all over Germany, many of them with a dog.
Over the years, we've learnt what dog owners actually need: not the fifth "dogs allowed" tag on a booking platform, but real paths into the countryside, clear rules and a host who doesn't make an issue out of every bark. The routes on this page come from our own walks, and the vet contact from real experience.
If there's something you'd like to know that isn't covered here, give us a call: +49 170 2435507, or write to us through our enquiry form. We usually reply within 24 hours.
€20 per night per dog, a small additional cleaning fee. No hidden costs. If you're bringing more than one dog, just let us know in advance.
The sofa, yes, please with the dog's own blanket on top. The bed is better avoided, as the mattress protectors are delicate. If you'd rather not go without, bring a dog bed along, and it's more relaxed for everyone.
From dachshunds to big German Shepherds, we've had it all here. We don't set any size or breed limits. What matters to us is that a dog is house-trained and sociable. If you're bringing more than one dog, just let us know in advance.
Spring and autumn are ideal: pleasant temperatures, fewer tourists in Würzburg and in the vineyards. In high summer, the vineyards can get very hot, so it's best to walk early in the morning and bring water. Winter holidays work well too; Maidbronn is gritted and the paths stay walkable.
Your dog can stay in the apartment if he's used to that. Just let us know a little beforehand, so our cleaner doesn't turn up unannounced. Dog boarding in the area: just ask and we're happy to recommend somewhere. If you're planning a longer hospital stay, our page on the apartment near the University Hospital may also be useful.
Maidbronn is a village, and plenty of dogs bark here. If your dog barks for hours on end in an empty room, that's obviously not ideal. But the odd bark at the postman or a passer-by is entirely normal here.
In the village and by the stream, please keep your dog on the lead. Under Rimpar council's bylaw, large dogs over 50 cm at the shoulder must be kept on the lead all year round in Maidbronn itself, in the community woods and on some farm tracks. On the farm tracks towards Estenfeld, many guests let their dog off the lead if it's reliably recalled and won't chase wildlife. From March to mid-July, the breeding and fawning season, please keep your dog on the lead everywhere, including in the Würzburg vineyards. There's no statewide requirement for this in Bavaria; it's about protecting fawns and ground-nesting birds.
We don't keep a fixed list; cafés change too quickly for that. Along the Main riverbank there are plenty of places with outdoor seating, and a handful of cafés in the old town too. Best approach: just ask, most places are dog-friendly. We're happy to share up-to-date tips when you arrive.
Pictures from guests and from us: the dog is part of the picture.
You'll find all the other pictures in our gallery.
