Discover Naila: Hiking Trails, Church Art and Museums
Accommodation in Naila
In Naila, educational trails about water and geology meet a neo-Gothic town church and a museum with an unusual balloon story. If you are planning a trip around several interests, there are different options to choose from: easy circular hikes and educational trails, viewpoints nearby, and insights into local crafts and history.
Water, geology and easy hiking trails
The 5.3-kilometre Erlebnisweg Wasser (Water Adventure Trail) is an easy educational trail and circular walk. It starts at the Höllensprudel and Hochfrankenquelle mineral springs. Along the way, you can learn about the past and present use of water power; the trail also explains how the Selbitz created the Höllental valley. It returns to the spring hut via the Röhrensteig trail. The loop thus combines a specific route with insights into the landscape and how it has been used.
The easy Geopfad Naila (Naila Geology Trail) is 6.6 kilometres long and focuses on geology and the Geopark Schieferland. One topic is the former mineral resources in Naila and their extraction. As a detour, the route offers an easy walk of about 800 metres to the Kalkofen Flaserkalk quarry. The Pikrit rocks are also on the route, where there is a rest area. The geology trail offers a different focus from the Water Adventure Trail: it centres on rocks and the history of mineral resources rather than water power.
The published route distances make it easy to compare the hikes: 5.3 kilometres for the Water Adventure Trail, 6.6 for the geology trail, and 10.6 for the Garles-Weg OS 43. All three are rated easy. The Garles-Weg is a circular hike from Naila to the Garlesfelsen rocks and back via Marlesreuth; the hike starts at Naila railway station. Nearby, the Garlesfelsen has a seating area and fantastic views. If you are travelling with children, the distance, difficulty rating and theme offer practical guidance for planning your day together.
Views and scenery nearby
The FrankenwaldSteigla “Der Wilde Mann” trail offers views across Naila and the former district to the Döbraberg from the area around the old Schneckengrün estate. The route also passes through Naila’s Froschgrün district. Nearby, the Höllental valley offers a different impression of the landscape and is considered romantically wild. These destinations complement the educational trails with viewpoints and scenery, without every hike following the same theme.
Town church, museum and crafts
Today’s Naila town church was built in the neo-Gothic style between 1869 and 1871, following the last major town fire. Its organ was made in 1997 by the Karl Schuke organ-building company in Berlin and is among the most outstanding instruments in all of Upper Franconia. The church’s construction history and its organ offer different points of interest: the church recalls the rebuilding after the town fire, while the instrument is a highlight of church art in its own right.
The well-known hot-air balloon associated with the spectacular 1979 balloon escape is on display at the Naila Museum in the new “Forum Naila.” The collection also includes exhibits on shoemaking and a fascinating doll’s house. A balloon landing site is located at Finkenflug in Dreigrün.
Marlesreuth also offers cultural insights nearby. The Handweaver Museum vividly portrays the life and work of handweavers and takes visitors back to the bygone era of the “Handweaver’s Franconian Forest.” Marlesreuth village church has a carved wooden coffered ceiling, a pulpit altar and a baptismal angel. Marlesreuth Weaver’s House is among the sights featured in the tourist offerings around Naila.
First consider which of these themes you would like to shape your trip; then you can search for accommodation in Naila to suit your travel plans.
Discover more destinations
Discover more destinations: Issigau, Lichtenberg, Zell im Fichtelgebirge, Sparneck, Hof, Feilitzsch, GeroldsgrĂĽn, Schwarzenbach am Wald.
Return to the main travel overview: Hof.
