Discover Eckental: Hiking, Forest and History

Eckental lies in the hilly landscape of the Schwabach Valley, close to Franconian Switzerland and the Sebalder Reichswald forest. If you enjoy exploring on foot, you’ll find a variety of options for planning your outings: eight circular hiking trails of different lengths and eight shorter walks lead through and around the municipality. Together with the local forest and cultural themes, they make this a destination to explore at different scales.

Hiking trails and shorter walks

One specific example is the route “To Old Castles and Churches in and around Eckental.” The route description from September 2011 calls it an easy 16-kilometre hike, with a walking time of around four hours and 78 metres of elevation gain. The starting point is Eschenau station. The distance and stated duration offer a guide for planning your day; check current trail conditions locally before setting out.

The municipality offers GPX downloads for its hiking routes. The route data reflects the status in 2019/20. The municipality also recommends a free folded hiking map, available at the town hall reception. This lets you combine digital navigation with a map that provides an overview of the routes while you’re out and about.

The Eckental Fitness and Health Park offers another way to add physical activity to your stay. It is located in a forest between Eckenhaid and Herpersdorf and features a 2.1-kilometre circular route with nine exercise stations. This offers two different scales of activity: the described 16-kilometre hike and the circuit in the park, which includes exercise stations.

Eschenau as a point of reference

Eschenau is served by VGN regional rail line RB 21, the Gräfenbergbahn, between Nürnberg Nordost and Gräfenberg. The station is also the starting point for the described 16-kilometre hike. For your specific journey, check the current timetable.

The wider destination of Erlangen-Höchstadt also offers a regional perspective: it has an extensive network of cycling and hiking trails, making it possible to explore landscapes from the Aischgrund to the Erlanger Oberland. This network belongs to the district as a whole; the trails in and around Eckental offer additional opportunities for local outings.

Audio trails and cultural history

The Eckental audio trails comprise three audio hiking routes, created as part of the “Klingende Landschaften” project by the local adult education centre and Bavarian Radio. They are available online on BR’s website. They complement traditional hiking routes with an audio format that combines the landscape and your visit with something to listen to.

Individual places also tell stories about the area’s history. The Brander Mill was one of the oldest of the 29 mills on the Schwabach and was probably built around 1300. Milling operations have ceased. In the Forth area, a memorial site with a commemorative plaque was established at “In der Fraisch.” The two examples highlight different aspects: the mill’s long history on the one hand, and a place explicitly designed as a site of remembrance on the other.

The present-day municipality was formed on 1 July 1972 through the merger of Benzendorf, Eckenhaid, Eschenau with Oberschöllenbach, Forth with Frohnhof, Herpersdorf and Unterschöllenbach. Brand was added in 1978. Eckental is in the district of Erlangen-Höchstadt in Middle Franconia and consists of 13 municipal districts. This history of the municipality provides further context for the place names you’ll encounter as you explore.

Discover more destinations: Heßdorf, Bubenreuth, Herzogenaurach, Hemhofen, Weisendorf, Wachenroth, Höchstadt an der Aisch, Kalchreuth.

For the wider travel overview: Erlangen-Höchstadt.