Discover Bärnau: Old Town, Buttons and Moor Pond

Old town history, button-making and paths by the water give Bärnau its varied character. On a walk through the old town, you can discover the history and present-day life of the oldest town in the Stiftland. The German Button Museum offers its own cultural focus: since 1998, it has been housed in the town’s former communal brewery.

Old Town History and Button-Making

The museum displays buttons from four centuries and made from 26 different materials. Machines and tools illustrate historic button-making methods. The collection therefore offers a glimpse both of a wide variety of materials and of the techniques once used to make buttons.

Group bookings and public guided tours are available for the old town walk. Check current dates before making plans. During your visit to the Bärnau-Tachov History Park, free audio tours are available on your own smartphone; no download is required. Audio guides are available in German, Czech and English.

Sports, Cycling Routes and Water

Silberhütte lies within the Bärnau municipal area at an elevation of about 850 metres above sea level. It is a year-round starting point for sporting activities, both competitive and recreational. When snow conditions are good, a network of more than 50 kilometres of cross-country ski trails is also available there. The trails range from 2 to 18 kilometres in length and can be skied in either classic or skating style. Thus, this year-round sports hub also offers cross-country skiing, which explicitly depends on good snow conditions.

There is a well-signposted network of cycling routes around Bärnau, with routes for leisure cyclists and competitive athletes. The Grenzland nature trail borders the Moor Pond and is suitable for hiking. Rowing and swimming are possible at the Moor Pond, which is freely accessible at all times. There is no lifeguard on duty.

Historic Sites in the Surrounding Area

Near Bärnau, the Tilly Redoubt on Steinberg is a preserved archaeological monument from the Thirty Years’ War. The fortification was built as a defensive structure in 1621; the redoubt is about 300 metres from the Grenzland Tower. Also on Steinberg, the pilgrimage path runs through an avenue of lime, elm and maple trees that is more than 200 years old. It includes Stations of the Cross, and the avenue is designated a natural monument.

Tirschenreuth: Museums, Fishing and Regional Cuisine

In Tirschenreuth, the MuseumsQuartier brings together the Upper Palatinate Fishing Museum and six other specialist exhibitions in a former monastery. Visitors can explore almost 1,000 years of fishing and fish-farming history and see native fish in four large aquariums. Special exhibitions, talks, readings and concerts are held regularly. Individual dates may change, so check the current programme when making specific plans.

The historic Fischhof Bridge and the Fischhof, which houses the district court, are located in the centre of Fischhof Park in Tirschenreuth. The Tirschenreuth district is best known for Zoigl, the cult beer of the Upper Palatinate Forest, and carp from the pond landscapes of the “Land of 1,000 Ponds”.

Discover More Destinations

Discover more destinations: Erbendorf, Krummennaab, Immenreuth, Pullenreuth, Neualbenreuth, Falkenberg, Konnersreuth, Tirschenreuth.

Back to the main travel overview: Tirschenreuth.