Waldthurn: Pilgrimage, Hiking Trails and Winter Cross-Country Skiing
Accommodation in Waldthurn
Ten information boards by the pond, a pilgrimage church on the Fahrenberg and cross-country ski trails with four specified lengths show how varied the ways of discovering Waldthurn can be: through culture, circular hikes or winter activities. These themes give you concrete starting points for planning your holiday, depending on whether you want to focus on history, trails through the landscape or winter exercise.
History by the Pond and on the Fahrenberg
Ten information boards are spread around the pond at the leisure complex along the Waldthurn History Trail. They cover the history of the Waldthurn region from the Stone Age to the municipal reform. This broad time span makes the trail an introduction to various chapters of local and regional history, rather than focusing on just one event.
Another historical landmark is the pilgrimage church of the Visitation of Mary on the Fahrenberg above Waldthurn. According to tradition, a member of a religious order brought a statue of the Virgin Mary from the Holy Land in 1204. A chapel was built onto a castle, and the image of Mary was placed inside for veneration; this marked the beginning of the pilgrimage to the Fahrenberg. Inside the church, the altarpiece on the left side altar depicts the meeting between Mary and Elizabeth. The tradition and the image give a visit to the church a specific historical and religious context.
Circular Routes with Different Highlights
The Nature and Culture Trail is a circular route around the market town of Waldthurn. Along the way, information boards provide details about nature, history and culture. An observation tower along the route is called a “Motte” because of its shape. The trail therefore brings together a range of themes, while the tower serves as a distinctive landmark.
The 10 km Kneipp circular hiking trail starts at the leisure complex on the eastern edge of Waldthurn, on the road to Neuenhammer, and leads through forests and meadows. In the Fahrenberg area, viewpoints offer views across the Upper Palatinate. Another circular hiking trail in the cross-country skiing area is 10.5 km long and starts at the OWV Waldthurn ski hut; there is a car park on the road to Neuenhammer. The distances of 10 and 10.5 km give you a concrete basis for choosing between the circular routes. The Kneipp trail is described as passing through forest and meadow sections; the other circular route starts at the ski hut.
In Winter Too, and Between the Trails
The Fahrenberg cross-country skiing centre offers trails measuring 2, 4, 7 and 12 km, with difficulty levels ranging from easy to intermediate. The starting point is the Waldthurn–Neuenhammer car park. The different distances make planning easier; check current conditions before setting out on a winter excursion.
The Waldthurn cycling facility, also known as the pump track, is located at Badeweiher 32. The Potato Technology Museum is one of Waldthurn’s three small museums. Alongside the trails and pilgrimage history, local attractions therefore range from a cycling facility to a specialist museum.
When choosing accommodation in Waldthurn, you can start by considering the focus of your trip: would you mainly like to explore the history trail and the church’s traditions, plan circular hikes or use the cross-country ski trails in winter?
The wider travel destination of Neustadt An Der Waldnaab
The wider travel destination of Neustadt An Der Waldnaab offers a range of activities, including hiking, cycling, museum visits and swimming in its numerous bathing waters. The Bockl is a distinct example of what the region has to offer: this 52 km route follows a historic railway line from Neustadt an der Waldnaab to Eslarn and can be used on foot, by bicycle or on inline skates. It is mostly paved and free of traffic; gradients rarely exceed 3 percent. The starting point in Neustadt an der Waldnaab can be reached by train. Trains run hourly to the terminus of the Nuremberg–Neustadt an der Waldnaab line, where you can transfer directly to a bicycle. Check the timetable before you travel. This provides a way to distinguish Waldthurn’s local history and trail network from another independent option in the wider travel destination.
Discover more destinations: Pleystein, Kirchendemenreuth, FlossenbĂĽrg, Parkstein, Kirchenthumbach, Pressath, Neustadt An Der Waldnaab, Schwarzenbach.
Back to the wider travel overview: Neustadt An Der Waldnaab.
