Neustadt a.d.Waldnaab: Castles, Glass History and Nature

Neustadt a.d.Waldnaab combines the history of a town with a hilly landscape. As a gateway to the Northern Upper Palatinate Forest Nature Park, the town enjoys an attractive setting; Neustadt is also part of the Goldsteig Trail. This gives you a mix of historic buildings, museums and trails to consider when planning your trip. When looking for accommodation, think about which of these themes matter most for your stay.

Castles and traces of the town’s history

The historic town square is defined by St. George’s Parish Church and the Old and New Castles. The Old Castle is a late Gothic building with architectural features that can be traced back to the 15th century. Its distinctive features include a three-storey gabled structure and bay windows. A small Baroque garden was laid out behind the castle, and part of the late medieval town wall has also been preserved.

The New Castle tells a different architectural story: commissioned by Philip Hyacinth of Lobkowicz, construction began to plans by Antonio della Porta between 1698 and 1702, but the castle was never completed. If you are interested in the history of the castles and their ceiling paintings, you can arrange guided tours of both the Old and New Castles. Check the arrangements locally before your visit.

Museums and churches

The town museum is housed in a former school dating from the 17th century. The building was renovated over a four-year period and opened as a town museum in 1989. The Town and Glass Museum covers the history of glass, the lives of glassmakers and the history of the town; the Lobkowicz family and Emperor Charles IV are also among its subjects. A permanent exhibition on the second floor of the New Lobkowicz Castle is devoted to the castle’s history, the family and its nearly 250-year rule in Neustadt/WN and the surrounding area.

The churches also reveal different chapters of the town’s history. The Catholic pilgrimage church of St. Felix was built from 1738 to 1746, and its interior was completed in 1765. From St. Felix Monastery Church, the view stretches over Neustadt and the surrounding area towards Weiden in the Upper Palatinate. The pilgrimage church of St. Anne is in the Mühlberg district. St. George’s Parish Church probably dates from the 12th century, was first mentioned in 1340 and was rebuilt in 1737.

A short stroll or a longer route

For a short cultural walk, try the easy Neustadt a.d. Waldnaab town tour: it is 0.5 kilometres long and starts in Neustadt. The Bockl cycle path is a very different proposition. This 52-kilometre route runs from Neustadt a.d. Waldnaab to Eslarn along a former railway line. Neustadt is also part of the Goldsteig Trail. The short town walk and the longer route therefore suit different time commitments, though their lengths alone do not determine a specific walking or cycling time.

In the wider Neustadt An Der Waldnaab travel region, most of the Bockl is paved and traffic-free; gradients along the route rarely exceed three per cent. You can explore the Bockl on foot, by bike or on inline skates. Its starting point in Neustadt an der Waldnaab is directly accessible by train. Trains run hourly to the route’s terminus on the Nuremberg–Neustadt an der Waldnaab line, where you can transfer directly to your bike. Check the timetable before setting out.

More regional highlights

Beyond Neustadt, the wider Neustadt An Der Waldnaab travel region offers further destinations in their own right. The Parkstein basalt cone was added to the list of Bavaria’s 100 most beautiful geological sites in 2003 and awarded National Geotope status in 2006. In Speinshart, cultural highlights include the monastery church, with its Italian High Baroque furnishings, and the historic monastic village, which has been preserved. The Doost offers a contrast in nature: there, the Girnitz stream flows through a boulder field of huge, rounded granite blocks along a stretch of about 750 metres. Several hiking trails lead there from Neustadt/WN, Weiden or Floß.

The region also has its own tradition of places to eat and drink: Neustadt a.d. Waldnaab has Zoigl pubs, a type of traditional tavern typical of the Upper Palatinate Forest. Their opening times vary; use the Zoigl calendar to plan your visit.

Discover more destinations

Püchersreuth, Pressath, Weiherhammer, Vohenstrauß, Eslarn, Tännesberg, Schirmitz and Störnstein.

Back to the main travel overview: Neustadt An Der Waldnaab.