The Fränkische Schweiz-Marathon is an annual road race held in Ebermannstadt, near Forchheim, within Germany’s Franconian Switzerland region. It features a flat, car-free federal road and includes a full marathon, half marathon, 10 km run, relay marathon, handbike marathon, Run & Bike, along with children’s and toddler races. The event's structure is suitable for first-time participants and those running shorter distances, while the asphalt surface and moderate gradient also provide an opportunity for faster runners to achieve quick times.
The course begins in Ebermannstadt, initially going towards Weilersbach and returning, then incorporating a larger northern loop before all participants finish back in town. During the race, runners and handbike riders pass by the area’s rocky scenery, villages, castles, and notable sites situated between Neideck and Walberla. The event attracts tens of thousands of spectators, and the numerous local festivals and accompanying events along the course lend the marathon a community fair atmosphere, distinct from a typical closed-road race.