Wendelstein: Forest Trails, Craftsmanship and History

Forest trails, a fortified church and traces of traditional crafts reveal different sides of Wendelstein. You can focus your stay on experiences in nature, discover historic buildings or combine the two. The accommodation that best suits your plans depends on which of these themes interests you most.

Compare forest trails and circular routes

The forest discovery trail is a circular route about 4.2 kilometres long. Information boards and stations explore various functions of the forest; the trail also includes a forest playground for children. It is accessible year-round and suitable for wheelchair users and pushchairs. This offers a practical way to combine learning about nature along the trail with a playground stop.

Another option is the circular route through the Wernloch, about 4.5 kilometres long. It starts at the car park on Nürnberger Straße beside the Old Canal in Wendelstein. The two circular routes are of a similar length but have different focuses: the forest discovery trail centres on its forest stations, while the Wernloch route passes through the Wernloch. The hike via Wendelstein, Kleinschwarzenlohe and Kornburg is a different tour: it starts and ends at the Wendenbrunnen in the centre of Wendelstein. You can choose based on the route’s theme and stated starting point without treating the routes as the same.

Cycling by the Old Canal and on longer loops

In Wendelstein, the Five Rivers Cycle Route runs parallel to the Old Canal. If you are considering a longer loop that crosses municipal boundaries, the “Mills & Industry” cycle route is an approximately 45-kilometre loop of the Five Rivers Cycle Route. It passes through Wendelstein, Schwanstetten and Rednitzhembach. These details offer different kinds of guidance: one describes the cycle route’s course beside the Old Canal in Wendelstein, the other gives the approximate total length and the municipalities on a longer route.

Fortified church, castle and the history of craftsmanship

The Gothic Church of St. George is Wendelstein’s oldest building. As a fortified church, it served as a refuge for the local population in times of war. The Schwarzach is also part of the townscape: it forms a loop around the rock by the church. This combination of architecture and river landscape brings the town’s history to life in a specific place.

Pfinzing Castle was built in the 16th century as a country residence by the Nuremberg patrician Pfinzing family. The paper mill tells another story of architectural and economic history: with its manor house, factory building and grinding mill, it forms an early industrial complex dating from the 17th to the 19th century. Those interested in traditional crafts can also visit the Turnery and Metal Spinning Museum. Housed in the former water house, it preserves products, tools and machinery from traditional crafts and offers demonstrations on the lathe.

Another stop for history enthusiasts is the half-timbered house by the fountain. The ensemble, built in 1705, comprises a farmhouse, stable and barn; it can only be viewed from the outside. At Badhausplatz, steps lead down to the Schwarzach, and information panels recall the former bathhouse. The river and local history are side by side here, without the square being mistaken for a museum visit.

Cultural events and practical information

At the summer serenades on Badhausplatz, musical and literary performers entertain audiences every Sunday in August. Check the dates for the year of your visit. The Jazz & Blues Open takes place annually in Wendelstein during the week around 1 May; it is also worth checking the event dates. The Jegelscheune offers a high-quality cultural programme.

For travel by public transport, bus routes 53, 602, 603 and 610, as well as the N60 night bus, connect Wendelstein with Nuremberg. As services may change, check the timetables before travelling. When choosing accommodation, it may help to first decide what you want to focus on: the forest loop, accessible year-round, cycle routes, historic buildings or cultural events.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Cham, Erding, Bavarian Jura, Franconian Alb, Neustadt A.D.Aisch-Bad Windsheim, Miesbach, Neustadt An Der Waldnaab and Tegernsee.

Back to the main travel overview: Bavaria.