Bayreuth: Caves, Landscapes and Franconian Discoveries

Landscapes and Routes in the District

The network of routes comprises around 1,400 km of cross-country ski trails, hiking trails and cycle paths. There is also a wide selection of long-distance and themed cycle routes that explore the district and pass through different natural areas, taking in their distinctive features and tourist highlights. Local circular cycle routes add to the network and make it possible to plan shorter routes within specific areas. If you enjoy cycling, you can choose between longer routes and circular routes to plan a trip focused more closely on individual parts of the district.

Hiking can also be combined with other activities, without requiring you to follow a set itinerary for the day. At the Ochsenkopf, there are well-marked hiking trails as well as the all-weather Alpine Coaster, a mountain cart track, the North and South gondola lifts, and downhill and single-track trails. There are therefore different ways to spend time outdoors here. The Veldenstein Forest is also home to a wildlife enclosure covering around 40 hectares. You can observe native forest animals in their natural surroundings along easy-to-walk paths.

Discover Caves and Culture

The caves offer different kinds of visits. The Teufelshöhle can only be visited as part of a guided tour. During “Sophie at Night,” by contrast, visitors explore the three chambers of Sophienhöhle at their own pace, without a group tour; lighting effects and music accompany the experience. Bear this difference in mind when planning your excursions.

The museums also each have their own distinct focus. Schloss Fantaisie Garden Art Museum opened in July 2000 as the first German museum at the time devoted exclusively to the history of garden art. Schloss Fantaisie Park brings together design elements from the Rococo, Sensibility and Historicist periods. At the Franconian Switzerland Museum in Tüchersfeld, the collections are housed in a distinctive setting: the so-called Judenhof, a complex of buildings dating from the 18th century. The German Camera Museum in Plech has more than 15,000 exhibits. Garden art, historic architecture and a camera collection thus cater to quite different cultural interests.

Winter Days and Regional Dining

At the Ochsenkopf, there is a 1,900 m-long south-facing slope and four groomed alpine ski runs. Some have snowmaking facilities and floodlighting until 10 p.m. If you want to make winter sports the focus of your trip, the facilities at the Ochsenkopf may be worth considering when planning your visit. In the wider region, Nordic Parc Fichtelgebirge offers more than 200 km of signposted Nordic walking routes, ranging from 4 to 15 km.

Regional dining includes numerous beer gardens, most of which are associated with their own breweries, butchers or bakeries. Traditional inns offer Franconian dining rooms and regional specialties. If you would like to discover Franconian cuisine as well as enjoy outdoor activities, you can make these offerings a focus of your trip.

Choose the Right Focus

When looking for a holiday apartment, it can be helpful to first consider which experiences you want to shape your trip: garden art and museums, visits to caves, cycling and hiking trails, or winter sports. The district’s landscapes stretch from the Fichtelgebirge in the north to Franconian Switzerland in the west and south. Routes, museums and leisure activities offer different starting points for choosing where to stay.

Discover More Places

Other places featured on this page include Hummeltal, Gefrees, Creußen, Ahorntal, Mistelgau, Heinersreuth, Hollfeld, Warmensteinach, Schnabelwaid, Waischenfeld, Fichtelberg, Eckersdorf, Glashütten, Bischofsgrün, Bindlach, Bayreuth, Emtmannsberg, Pegnitz, Weidenberg, Seybothenreuth, Pottenstein, Goldkronach, Mehlmeisel, Bad Berneck im Fichtelgebirge and Betzenstein.

For the higher-level travel overview: Bavaria.