Upper Palatinate Forest: Pond Landscapes, Moorland and Cycle Routes

Numerous ponds shape the landscape of the Upper Palatinate Forest. Many of them are, or were, used mainly for carp farming. Pond landscapes are therefore a distinctive feature of the region—and a link between nature and regional food culture. There are also cycle routes of different lengths, protected moorland and pond areas, and insights into the history of the Earth. When planning your trip, you can choose according to the topics that interest you most.

Cycle routes of different lengths

If you are interested in longer cycling tours, the Oberpfälzer Radl-Welt offers an extensive network of routes: its cycling circuit runs for about 500 kilometres through the Upper Palatinate Forest and comprises six themed trails ranging from 85 to 155 kilometres. The main route is a circular tour with eight stages and a total length of 503 kilometres. It has 3,600 metres of elevation gain and a moderate difficulty level; the start and finish are in Weiden i.d.OPf. The different figures give you an overview of the tour’s total distance and layout.

The Bockl offers a different distance: this railway-line cycle path is around 52 kilometres long and follows the former railway line between Neustadt an der Waldnaab and Eslarn. The Bavarian-Bohemian Friendship Trail also uses a former railway line for part of its route. It connects the medieval towns of Nabburg and Horšovský Týn in the Czech Republic; the Wölsendorf–Schönsee section follows a former railway line with moderate gradients. In the Upper Palatinate Forest, the three river cycle routes—the Naab Valley Cycle Route, the Waldnaab Valley Cycle Route and the Haidenaab Cycle Route—are among the most popular of their kind.

This gives you different cycling themes to consider for your trip: a circular tour with stages, a railway-line cycle path or a route along a river. If you prefer to get around on foot, the Waldnaab Valley has a variety of walking and cycling routes.

Pond landscapes and protected nature

The Prackendorfer and Kulzer Moos is a protected moorland area covering more than 80 hectares. The Goldsteig trail passes through it. The Waldnaabaue, in turn, is strictly protected as both a bird sanctuary and a Natura 2000 site under the Habitats Directive. You can explore its pond landscape on foot or by bike; numerous walking and cycling paths cross the area. These paths and protected areas offer different ways to experience the region’s nature, without having to make a single activity the main focus of your trip.

Insights into the history of the Earth and everyday culture

The GEO-Zentrum at the KTB offers guided tours, documentaries and exhibits about two boreholes, 4,000 and 9,101 metres deep, and about the Earth system, which is studied through deep drilling. Here, the focus is on the boreholes and geological research. Events at the Open-Air Museum of the Upper Palatinate offer a different perspective on regional work and traditions. They include baking farmhouse bread, harvesting potatoes and draining the ponds to catch fish. Dates may vary, so check the current programme before your visit.

Zoigl beer and carp

The region’s pond farming is also reflected in its cuisine. Upper Palatinate carp g.g.A. has protected geographical indication status. Many pond farmers in the Upper Palatinate Forest have committed to strict quality standards under this seal. Zoigl beer is also part of the region’s food and drink culture: it is brewed in the five communal breweries in Eslarn, Falkenberg, Mitterteich, Neuhaus and Windischeschenbach. Zoigl publicans take turns serving it.

A visit to a Zoigl pub takes a little planning. Serving is limited to certain times and rotates according to a set Zoigl calendar. The pubs are usually open once a month for a long weekend; opening periods vary from one Zoigl town to another. If Zoigl is part of your travel plans, check the calendar for the town you intend to visit.

The different themes can help you decide where to stay: if cycling stages are your priority, you can choose between a circular tour, railway-line paths and river routes. If you mainly want to experience the landscape, the moorland and pond areas offer their own points of interest. For culture and regional cuisine, there are also the boreholes, museum events, carp and Zoigl beer. This lets you shape your trip around the experiences that interest you most in the Upper Palatinate Forest.

Discover more destinations: Bavarian Swabia, Upper Bavaria, Eichstätt, Wunsiedel in the Fichtel Mountains, Fürstenfeldbruck, Amberg, Dachau, Chiemgau.

Return to the main travel overview: Bavaria.