Discover Eckersdorf: Garden Art, Gorges and Hiking Trails

In the municipality of Eckersdorf, landscaped garden art and protected gorges meet a variety of hiking trails. Fantaisie Palace Park and Teufelsloch appeal to different interests: one is about the history and design of a park, the other about gorge woodland, rock formations and water. If you are planning a stay, you can explore these as separate highlights rather than combining them into a single tour.

Garden Art at Fantaisie Palace

Fantaisie Palace and its park were created by Duchess Elisabeth Friederike Sophie (1732–1780). The park brings together design elements from the Rococo, Sensibility and Historicism periods. This blend gives the grounds their distinctive art-historical character. The palace is also home to the Spindler Cabinet, an inlaid-work masterpiece by the brothers Johann Friedrich and Heinrich Wilhelm Spindler.

The garden art museum has several key dates in its history. The decision to establish a garden art museum at Fantaisie Palace was made in 1991; it opened in mid-2000. The park’s water cascade is also part of its designed garden history: it was fully restored as a water feature from 2003 to 2005. Anyone interested in garden art will find both the development of the park and a concrete example of its features here.

Gorges, Protected Areas and History

The sandstone gorge is a natural monument under special protection. In Teufelsloch, the gorge woodland has been designated a natural monument since 1941 and is also protected. If you walk upstream through Teufelsloch from below, you will reach a waterfall at the end of the gorge after about 100 metres.

Teufelsloch had already become a popular excursion destination in the 19th century because of its wild, romantic gorges. According to entries in Cosima’s diary, Richard Wagner visited often and stopped at the forest hut. This historical account adds a story of visitors to the natural setting without detracting from the protected gorge woodland.

Hiking Trails with Different Highlights

The Princess Friederike Trail starts at the historic Kappellenweiher pond. Its small island was once used by the nobility for coffee parties. Along the way, the trail passes the Franzosenbruck bridge and a small lake, then climbs over old sandstone steps and rock formations to the Siegesturm. The tower was built in 1871 after the Franco-Prussian War. This route therefore combines historic sites with striking natural features.

The Cuckoo Trail “Over the Hohe Buche” offers a different way to explore the area: it is about eight kilometres long and takes around two hours. From Busbach, the circular route passes over the Steinberg and through Melkendorf, follows the woodland “Die Hohe Buche,” crosses the Eschenbach towards Lochau and returns to Busbach. Cuckoo Trail 2 focuses on the Busbach Valley and the Braunstein Monument. The route leads there via the Pfarrhügel, then returns to the starting point over the Steinberg, with wide views across Busbach.

The Teufelsloch hiking trail also has a clear route: it runs from the forest hut through Teufelsloch and back to the hut. Detours lead to the Wolfsfalle, Lettenwinkel or Wills Monument. The trails described therefore differ in their landscapes, destinations and landmarks.

Eckersdorf and the Wider Bayreuth Destination

The wider Bayreuth destination offers a broader view of a variety of natural landscapes. Franconian Switzerland characterises the western and southern parts of Bayreuth district; the Fichtel Mountains, with their dark forests and granite boulder fields, define the north. The district has a well-maintained network of around 1,400 kilometres of cross-country ski trails, hiking paths and cycle routes. Long-distance and themed cycle routes explore the different natural landscapes, while local circular cycling routes make it possible to plan shorter journeys. These regional options provide an additional framework for travel planning and are distinct from the sights and trails in the municipality of Eckersdorf.

Discover More Destinations

Discover more destinations: Schnabelwaid, Bischofsgrün, Warmensteinach, Glashütten, Ahorntal, Bindlach, Hollfeld, Gefrees.

Back to the main travel overview: Bayreuth.