The best traffic-free bike rides around Kefenrod

Here on the "Alte Weide" (Old Pasture), "water buffalo" are used for grazing. The goal is to keep the areas open.

Today's useRecreation: The area around the body of water serves as a popular recreational spot with an approximately seven-kilometer circular path for cyclists and walkers. Ardea's Lake World: A special educational and experiential trail with 16 stations playfully informs visitors about local nature, bird protection, and dam technology.

Purpose and Function Flood protection: It is considered one of the most important protective measures against floods caused by the Kinzig river, which are triggered, among other things, by inflows from the Vogelsberg region. Energy generation: A small turbine system for electricity generation is directly integrated into the dam. Low water regulation: In dry periods, the reservoir helps to keep the water level of the Kinzig river stable.

Construction and costsConstruction period: Work on the dam began in 1976 and was completed in 1982 (dam construction and initial impoundment took place from 1976–1979). Construction costs: The construction of the lake and the dam cost around 70 million German Marks at the time. Technical data: The dam is 14 meters high. The basin has a maximum extent of up to 125 hectares and a capacity of approximately 7.2 million cubic meters of water.

The Kinzig reservoir (Kinzigtalsperre) was built between 1976 and 1982 and primarily serves flood protection, low water augmentation, and power generation. The approximately 70-hectare retention basin in Hesse is located between Bad Soden-Salmünster and Steinau an der Straße (district Ahl) and is operated by the Kinzig Water Association.

Gentle hills, extensive meadows and damp pastures – with over 220 hectares, the nature reserve "Im Rußland und in der Kuhweide bei Lindheim" is the largest nature reserve in the Wetteraukreis district. The Lindheim NABU group has been looking after the area since 1973. The Great Curlew has one of its last remaining populations here in all of Hesse, and the White Stork, Corn Crake, and Greylag Goose also find protection in the created small bodies of water and renatured sections.

Not far from Düdelsheim, the view opens up over the rolling hills and lush meadows of the Wetterau. From here, you have a beautiful view of the distinctive Glauberg. In 1988, local historians discovered the contours of a burial mound during a flight over the south slope. Systematic excavations subsequently uncovered an almost completely preserved stone figure of a warrior, 1.86 meters tall, as well as richly equipped graves of Celtic warriors from the 5th century. These are now considered the most significant finds of the La Tène culture. Among them is "Dudilesheim", first documented in 792 AD, today Düdelsheim.

If you're pedaling hard or your feet are burning in your hiking boots, a short break in the Wassertretbecken (water-treading pool) in Lißberg is worthwhile. The facility is the result of real community effort. Many helpers, patrons, and the municipal building yard contributed to its construction. Many materials were second-hand and found a new purpose here in the spirit of sustainability. The foot and arm basin is fed by a spring whose water temperature is between 14 and 16 degrees Celsius year-round – cool enough to get tired legs going again in the summer months.