Discover Schwandorf: Rock Cellars, Culture and Nature

Schwandorf combines unique insights into its history with cultural offerings and places to visit in the surrounding countryside. One unusual discovery is the rock cellars: the Rock Cellar Labyrinth in Schwandorf is Bavaria’s largest rock cellar labyrinth. Museums, the historic Blasturm tower and events add their own cultural touches.

Rock Cellars: History Beneath the City

In Schwandorf’s Holz- und Weinberg area, there are more than 130 rock cellar chambers carved by hand into Dogger sandstone. They extend for almost a kilometre from north to south. Schwandorf’s rock cellars were originally used as fermentation and storage cellars for beer. The first were built in the last quarter of the 15th century or at the beginning of the 16th century, around 1500.

On guided tours, visitors learn more about the history of Schwandorf’s underground world and the “cellar thieves” of the 1930s. Access is subject to a clear condition: the Rock Cellar Labyrinth can only be visited as part of a guided tour. Advance registration or booking with the tourist office is mandatory; you can reach it on 09431 45 550.

Experience City History and Culture

The Schwandorf City Museum features a permanent exhibition on the history of Schwandorf and the surrounding towns. It is open Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m. and Thursdays from 12:00 noon to 6:00 p.m. Other times are available on request and by arrangement. Check opening hours before your visit.

The historic Blasturm tower is now considered a landmark of the city; a visit is included in city tours. In Fronberg, a district of Schwandorf, the Upper Palatinate Artists’ House regularly presents current work by regional and national artists. Artist talks and guided tours are also offered there. The city’s cultural office holds the “Kultursommer im Spitalgarten” (Summer of Culture in the Spitalgarten) every two years in the courtyard in front of the town hall and Schwandorf’s Spitalkirche. For specific dates, check the relevant event schedule.

Getting Your Bearings and Exploring the Schwandorf District

The certified tourist office, located in the historic Pfleghof building, is the first point of contact for visitors and residents. There you can get cycling and hiking maps, as well as brochures about tourist attractions and activities in the region. This is particularly helpful if you are planning trips around the district as well as exploring the city.

The Schwandorf district is a holiday region in the Upper Palatinate Forest. The Upper Palatinate Lake District in the district is shaped by its water and diverse landscapes. One example of a route for getting your bearings is the Weiher cycle route: around nine kilometres long and signposted throughout in both directions, it connects Schwandorf with Lake Murner and passes through the Charlottenhofer Weiher nature reserve. The Upper Palatinate Lake Trail and the Way of St. James also pass through this pond area.

The Charlottenhofer Weiher area covers 833.0 hectares and forms a biotope network of around 15 larger ponds and more than 80 medium-sized and small ponds. It is a nationally significant breeding bird area; species found there include osprey, white-tailed eagle, bluethroat, spotted crake, woodlark and marsh harrier. Tours with knowledgeable local guides, who provide information about the landscape, are offered regularly. Check the dates of guided tours before your trip.

Other aspects of the landscape also add to the picture of the district: the Wald- und Heidelandschaft nature reserve is a valuable refuge for species that cannot survive in more densely vegetated, nutrient-rich habitats. The gneiss at Hochfels in the Schwandorf district was included in Bavaria’s list of the 100 most beautiful geotopes. The district’s BAXI Museum Line 8402 provides transport to the Upper Palatinate Open-Air Museum; check the timetable details before setting off.

Choose the Right Base

When looking for accommodation, you can start by deciding what you want to focus on during your trip: would you mainly like to explore the rock cellars, museum and cultural offerings in Schwandorf, or also set aside time for trips around the district? This will make it easier to choose the right base for your trip. The city’s history and the surrounding landscape offer different experiences, and you don’t need to combine them into a single day’s itinerary.

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