The highlight of the day is the Church Vierzehnheiligen, which translates as Fourteen Saints, a Baroque and rococo masterpiece by architect Balthasar Neumann, completed in 1772.
We pedalled part of the hill, pushed part and then locked up our bikes and walked the last meters unencumbered to the church Vierzehnheiligen.
As the legend goes, it was here, in 1445, that a shepherd saw the first of a series of visions of the fourteen Auxiliary Saints in adoration before the Christ Child, instructing him to build a chapel to mark the site. The population was particularly eager to believe in miracles in the dire times of the German Peasants' War and the Thirty Years War and the spot became a popular pilgrimage destination.
The heathen Easter egg tradition has implanted itself firmly in the Catholic church.
Kloster Banz or Banz Abbey, another Baroque jewel, lies on the other side of the Main valley, on a hill, higher than Vierzehnheiligen. One pilgrimage was enough for our day and with some regrets we pedal on past the turn off to Banz.
In the little town of Ebensfeld we follow the signs to Pension Veitsberg which seems the easiest way to find a place to sleep. We're in luck, Pension and Cafe Veitsberg leaves nothing to be desired - friendly, clean, big room, quiet, great breakfast and the best price of our four-day jaunt, 56 € including breakfast.
