Stockheim in Upper Franconia: Discover its mining history

Stockheim in Upper Franconia brings together striking evidence of hard-coal mining, hiking opportunities and a geotope ranked among Bavaria’s 100 most beautiful. The town’s history can be encountered in various forms: in a preserved building, in a collection of tools and documents, and as the subject of an educational trail. There are also two hiking trails, each with its own way of guiding you. This lets you plan your stay around cultural interests, outdoor activity and geological discoveries.

Traces of the St. Katharina mine

The Rentei is now one of the last surviving buildings of the historic “St. Katharina” mine in Stockheim. The building offers a tangible starting point if you are interested in the industrial past. The Stockheim Mining Museum displays tools, miners’ lamps, documents and other items from the active mining era. Together, they offer two distinct perspectives: the surviving fabric of the mine and the objects and documents associated with its active mining years. Anyone interested in industrial history can choose between the historic building and the collection as different ways to explore the subject.

Stockheim hard coal on the educational trail

The Dachsbau Mining Heritage Trail explains the history of Stockheim hard coal with the help of an overview panel and six object panels. The overview sets out the theme, while the six object panels break the explanation down into individual items. The trail presents local mining history in its own way, complementing the view of the Rentei and the Mining Museum collection with an interpretive account. If you enjoy following a clearly defined theme as you explore, Stockheim hard coal offers a specific focus.

Hiking between Bavaria and Thuringia

The Mining Circular Trail is a cross-border hiking trail between Bavaria and Thuringia. The FrankenwaldSteigla Im Kohlenwald trail starts at the information boards by the mine. The two routes therefore offer different ways to find your bearings: the Mining Circular Trail foregrounds its connection to both federal states, while the FrankenwaldSteigla lets you orient yourself by its named starting point. The Stockheim geotope is ranked among Bavaria’s 100 most beautiful geotopes. This adds a geological reason to explore alongside the industrial history, which may also appeal to travelers interested in nature and the history of the Earth.

Stockheim as a destination and base for your stay

If mining history is your main focus, you can plan to visit the Rentei, Mining Museum and educational trail as different points of interest. If you mainly want to hike, you can consider the cross-border Mining Circular Trail and the starting point of the FrankenwaldSteigla. When choosing accommodation, check which location suits your planned visits, and choose your base according to the kind of trip you have in mind.

A games evening in the Rentei program

The Rentei’s program includes a monthly games evening, open to everyone. Check before your visit whether an event is scheduled, as dates may change.

Discover more destinations: Küps, Tettau, Weißenbrunn, Nordhalben, Mitwitz, Tschirn, Wallenfels, Teuschnitz.

For the main travel overview: Kronach.