Neuenmarkt: Discover railway history in the town

Neuenmarkt’s railway history can be discovered beyond the museum: close to the German Steam Locomotive Museum are a Catholic and a Protestant railway workers’ church. The railway planned both churches; railway workers built them as a voluntary project. The museum preserves more than 30 steam locomotives in a railway landscape that has developed over time. The churches and collection show different sides of the railway village – religious buildings and the presence of the steam locomotives.

Walking tours, exhibition and cycle route

A walking tour of Neuenmarkt, about three kilometres long, introduces participants to features of the railway village’s history from the perspective of a railway enthusiast. The focus is therefore on the town and its history, while the museum tour takes visitors through the exhibition. Participants should arrange their preferred date for the tour of Neuenmarkt with the museum at least two weeks in advance; details should be confirmed with the museum. For booked group tours of the museum exhibition, the operator requests registration at least one week in advance.

The railway line between Neuenmarkt-Wirsberg and Marktschorgast stations is still in operation; it was built between 1844 and 1848. For cyclists, the Main Cycle Route follows the White Main from Himmelkron through Neuenmarkt, past Wirsberg towards Kulmbach and on to Mainleus.

Kulmbach as a wider travel destination

The wider travel destination of Kulmbach offers further nature and cultural attractions. The nature trail on Kulmbach’s Rehberg is about four kilometres long and has 21 learning stations. The Frankenwaldsteigla “Rehbergweg” is an 11-kilometre circular route from Plassenburg Castle to Rehberg, through Kulmbach’s old town and back to the starting point. The two routes differ in their design: one is a nature trail with stations, while the other is a longer circuit that takes in the old town and Rehberg.

Another 11-kilometre circular route runs between Thurnau and Kasendorf. Both routes are the same length but take in different places: the described Rehbergweg route includes Plassenburg Castle and Kulmbach’s old town, while the other route runs between Thurnau and Kasendorf.

There are also specific cultural attractions to choose from. The German Tin Figure Museum at Plassenburg Castle houses more than 300,000 individual figures, arranged in around 150 dioramas. In Wonsees, Zwernitz Castle was first mentioned in a document in 1156 as the ancestral seat of the Walpoten family; its tower can be climbed and offers a sweeping view over the Franconian Switzerland Nature Park. The castle is right next to the Sanspareil rock garden. The rock theatre in the grove, the Oriental Building and the Kitchen Building have been preserved there.

The Bavarian Brewery Museum dedicates more than 3,000 square metres of exhibition space to the history and art of brewing beer; a visit ends with a sample sip from the glass museum brewery.

Discover more destinations

Neudrossenfeld, Wonsees, Presseck, Mainleus, Wirsberg, Untersteinach, Marktschorgast, Marktleugast

Back to the main travel overview: Kulmbach.