Auerbach i.d.OPf.

Auerbach i.d.OPf. offers a distinctive mix of woodland paths, a historic church and tennis. If you are considering a trip to the town, you can choose between getting active in the Bürgerwald forest, exploring cultural history and enjoying sporting activities. The wider Amberg-Sulzbach destination offers further landscapes, nature and cultural attractions.

Bürgerwald, paths and local history

The Bürgerwald lies south of Auerbach. This contiguous woodland covers around 520 hectares and is owned by the town. Numerous paved paths invite you to hike, cycle and ride horses. There are several ways to get active in the forest, and the paths offer a clear starting point if you would like to make your stay more active.

The St. Helena cemetery church in Auerbach offers another way to explore the town’s history. Its origins date back to around 1360. This approximate date makes it a historic landmark alongside the town’s nature and leisure activities.

Tennis is another local option: Auerbach’s three tennis clubs have a total of 15 outdoor clay courts and one indoor court. If you would like to play tennis, you can choose between outdoor courts and the indoor facility. Whether visitors can play without membership may vary from club to club.

In the wider Amberg-Sulzbach destination

The wider Amberg-Sulzbach destination encompasses a variety of landscapes, from imposing limestone cliffs and gentle Jura hills to expansive forests and river valleys. It is located in Bavaria between Regensburg and Nuremberg. This regional diversity provides a distinct backdrop for planning a trip: alongside nature and hiking, mining history, local traditions and regional cuisine also feature.

The Felsenweg is one specific example of a hiking route: this 2.7-kilometre hike takes about 45 minutes, leading from Sackdilling through the Felsenlabyrinth rock labyrinth to the Bauernlöcher caves and through a striking rocky landscape. The Wacholderwanderweg is one of the most beautiful hiking trails in the Amberg-Sulzbach region. The Erzweg offers a cultural focus: it connects sites with a mining tradition spanning more than 1,000 years and passes through cultural and natural landscapes.

The region can also be explored on the water. The Vils is navigable by canoe from Hahnbach, passing unspoilt stretches of river, castles and historic Amberg. At Wolfertsfeld, the Bow-Vision 3D course offers a different way to enjoy the outdoors: on a circular route of around three kilometres through a farm woodland typical of the Upper Palatinate Jura, visitors can try traditional archery.

A nature observation platform has been built in Theuern beside the wastewater treatment plant’s polishing ponds. The adjoining wetland, with the Vils river, oxbow lakes and ponds, is a year-round resting and breeding site for local birds and those migrating from the north. The platform and wetland are therefore part of a natural environment whose importance is not limited to any one season.

Culture, traditions and regional cuisine

At Kultur-Schloss Theuern, the Mining and Industrial Museum of Eastern Bavaria researches and documents mining and industry in eastern Bavaria, keeping their history alive. The Kirwan festivals in the Amberg-Sulzbach region are another cultural tradition: since 2023, they have been part of Bavaria’s intangible cultural heritage. They are celebrated each year in their respective towns and are open to visitors and local residents.

Traditional Schlachtschüssel is part of the region’s food culture. Many inns serve it regularly, though dates vary from one inn to another. Dishes include Wurschtsuppn, boiled pork and blood sausages, liver sausages and bratwurst made to individual recipes. Brewing traditions also shape the region: original Upper Palatinate Zoigl is brewed in Erlheim. The Sudhang private brewery in Amberg uses hops from Illschwang, the world’s smallest hop-growing region.

There is an important seasonal rule for the region’s cave hiking trails: entering the caves is prohibited from October 1 to March 31. Keep this period in mind if you include these trails in your plans.

Tailor your search to the activities and attractions you would like to include in your trip.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Sulzbach-Rosenberg, Hohenburg, Ursensollen, Birgland, Kümmersbruck, Schmidmühlen, Ebermannsdorf, Schnaittenbach.

Back to the wider travel guide: Amberg-Sulzbach.