Vohenstrauß: Castle History and Discoveries

In Vohenstrauß, striking Renaissance architecture, town history and outdoor activities come together. Friedrichsburg Castle shapes the townscape; museums, hiking trails and the natural swimming pool add their own distinctive touches. You can tailor your stay to culture, exercise or a day of swimming.

Friedrichsburg Castle and Culture in the Town

Built between 1586 and 1593 by Count Palatine Friedrich, Friedrichsburg Castle is the landmark of Vohenstrauß and a testament to the history of the Palatinate-Neuburg principality. It is one of the most remarkable castles in the Upper Palatinate. The three-storey Renaissance building has a steep gabled roof; five round towers with pointed helmets define its silhouette.

The castle is also a venue for cultural events held there throughout the year. The programme includes exhibitions by regional artists and performances by the Vohenstrauß Town Theatre. An annual classic car gathering takes place on the castle grounds, which also host a romantic Advent market. If you would like to combine your visit with an event, check the relevant dates in advance.

The Vohenstrauß Local History Museum is housed in a 18th-century farmhouse. Its collections trace the town’s history from earlier living and working conditions to its urban and industrial heritage, including glass and porcelain. Other topics include agriculture, religious folk art and archaeological finds in and around Vohenstrauß. The museum offers guided tours for groups or school classes by prior arrangement through the tourist office: 09651/922230. Please arrange your visit with the office in advance.

The “Treasures of the Upper Palatinate” Gemstone Museum focuses on minerals from the region. Exhibits include fluorite and barite from the Wölsendorf fluorite mining district, red, yellow and green garnet crystals, and the Hagendorf local collection. Rose quartz from Pleystein and beryl, a precursor to emerald, round out the collection. Its focus on regional finds makes the museum a different way to discover the Upper Palatinate than through its urban and industrial history.

Trails, Water and Nature

The Pfalzgraf-Friedrich-Weg is a 16.5-kilometre nature and history trail dedicated to the builder of Vohenstrauß’s landmark. Six information boards explain how natural and landscape factors shaped historical settlement. These include drinking water supply, energy resources and transport links. The circular hike is 16.5 kilometres long; if you choose Friedrichsburg Castle as your starting and ending point, the total route is 3 kilometres longer. Follow the local signs and check trail conditions before setting out.

You can also combine cultural history with a cycling trip: Route 9 of the Simultaneous Churches Cycle Route starts at the Protestant Town Church in Vohenstrauß. It first leads to the Simultaneous Church of St John the Baptist in Altenstadt, then along the Bockl cycle path to Flossenbürg and the Simultaneous Churches of St Pankratius, before returning to Vohenstrauß via Waldkirch and Pleystein. This gives you the option of a tour with several named stops, in addition to the circular hike.

For a day of swimming, the Vohenstrauß natural swimming pool offers a water slide, a sand and water play area, a water trampoline, a diving board and two beach volleyball courts. There is a 50-metre swimming area, as well as a non-swimmer area with a water depth of 0.10 to 1.20 metres and a swimmer area with a depth of 1.20 to 3.80 metres. If you are travelling with children, you can check whether the specific play and water facilities suit your plans for the day.

The entire municipal area lies within the Northern Upper Palatinate Forest Nature Park. One of the aims of the nature park designation is to open up suitable areas of the landscape for recreation and the enjoyment of nature, and to make them accessible to the public where this is compatible with the natural environment and landscape. This qualification is part of the underlying principle: recreation and the enjoyment of nature must be balanced against the landscape’s capacity to withstand use.

Choose Your Accommodation Based on Your Plans for the Day

If you would also like to plan visits to other destinations within the wider travel region, factor in their locations and the excursions available there.

In the Wider Travel Region of Neustadt An Der Waldnaab

The district of Neustadt an der Waldnaab is located in the Upper Palatinate Forest destination and offers activities including hiking, cycling, museum visits and swimming at numerous bathing spots. Another option for active days is the Bockl: this 52-kilometre route follows a historic railway line from Neustadt an der Waldnaab to Eslarn and can be travelled on foot, by bike or on inline skates. Most of it is paved and traffic-free; gradients rarely exceed 3 percent. Neustadt an der Waldnaab, the starting point, is accessible by train. Trains run hourly to the terminus of the Nuremberg–Neustadt an der Waldnaab line, where you can transfer directly to a bike. Check train times before your trip.

Discover more destinations: Böhmischbruck, Luhe-Wildenau, Kohlberg, Trabitz, Kirchendemenreuth, Vorbach, Eschenbach In Der Oberpfalz, Moosbach.

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