Leuchtenberg: Lerautal Valley, Hiking Trails and History

Leuchtenberg combines historic landmarks with hiking trails through the Lerautal Valley and cycling routes that pass through the town. Its churches offer insights into different periods, while the routes reveal different perspectives on the landscape. This means you can plan a trip to Leuchtenberg around your cultural interests, hiking plans or wish to tackle longer cycling routes.

Churches and History in Leuchtenberg

The parish church of St. Margaretha has processional staffs belonging to the local guilds, dating from the 18th century. They point to the guilds as part of local history. The cemetery chapel of St. Sebastian offers a different historical note: the Baroque chapel was built in 1740/41. Both buildings represent different chapters in the town’s history—the staffs reflect the guilds, while the chapel represents the Baroque period of construction.

If you would like to combine culture and nature during your stay, Leuchtenberg offers both as distinct themes: its churches and their specific historical connections, and the Lerautal Valley as a protected landscape area. You do not have to focus on just one; you can choose based on which experiences interest you most on your trip.

The Lerautal Valley and Trails through the Landscape

The Lerautal Valley near Leuchtenberg is a 91-hectare nature reserve. It includes a 1.5-kilometre section of the Lerau valley and adjacent woodland. The Burgenweg and Goldsteig trails follow an easy-to-walk path through the picturesque Lerautal Valley and up to Leuchtenberg. For hikers, the route therefore connects the trail through the valley with Leuchtenberg as its destination.

Goldsteig Stage 5 also crosses part of the nature reserve and leads to Leuchtenberg. In the protected area, visitors must stay on the marked trails. The Burgenweg, part of the Goldsteig, passes through Sargmühle to Leuchtenberg, then continues via Wittschau, Döllnitz and Trausnitz through the Pfreimd Valley towards Markt Tännesberg. This sequence of trails gives your tour a clear route through the places named. Check the current route and conditions before setting out.

Cycling Routes of Different Lengths

The Luhe-Lerau Cycle Route is about 34 kilometres long and passes through Leuchtenberg. A much longer ride is the 343-kilometre Leuchtenberg Cycle Tour: on its return leg, it runs from Trausnitz via Leuchtenberg back to Weiden. These figures show two very different route lengths. If you are planning to cycle during your trip, you can take this difference into account when deciding which route suits your plans.

Hiking and cycling routes offer different experiences: in the Lerautal Valley, the focus is on the protected landscape and the trails leading up to Leuchtenberg; the designated cycling routes differ considerably in length. Your planned focus can help you structure your days without treating the different routes as equivalent.

Leuchtenberg as a Possible Place to Stay

If you are considering staying overnight in Leuchtenberg, your plans for the trip can guide your search for accommodation. Are you mainly interested in the churches and the Lerautal Valley, or would you like to include one of the cycling routes? The routes mentioned differ both in purpose and length. First decide which experiences you want to shape your stay; this can help you match your search for accommodation in Leuchtenberg to your travel plans.

Visiting Leuchtenberg Castle

Leuchtenberg Castle is closed to regular visitors. Until further notice, neither the interior nor the outer castle courtyard is accessible. Check this visitor information before your trip if you are planning a visit.

Discover More Destinations

Discover more destinations: Kirchenthumbach, Floß, Tännesberg, Schwarzenbach, Luhe-Wildenau, Störnstein, Eslarn, Vorbach.

To the overview of the wider region: Neustadt An Der Waldnaab.