Hollfeld: Fortified Tower, Upper Town and Terraced Gardens

Upper Town, Fortified Tower and Pilgrimage

To this day, Hollfeld’s Upper Town, with Marienplatz, preserves the early medieval character of a burgher and hill town. The structure of a spur settlement has also been retained. The term describes the historic settlement form and adds to the picture of an urban area whose significance is not defined solely by individual sights.

One striking building is the late medieval fortified tower of St. Gangolf. It is attached to a former church, which is now used as a cultural centre. The tower contains an old tower keeper’s apartment and also offers a view. Thus, defensive architecture, the former ecclesiastical use and the former church building’s present-day cultural function come together in one place.

Pilgrimages are also part of Hollfeld’s religious tradition: in May and June, they lead to Salvatorkirche. They are the only Salvator pilgrimages in the Archdiocese of Bamberg. The time of year and the specific destination give this tradition a clear place in your travel plans, without requiring an extensive sightseeing itinerary.

Guided Tours and Discoveries in Nature

If you would like to discover the town with expert commentary, individual town tours with experienced guides are offered in Hollfeld throughout the year. A botanist also leads a tour through a garden in Hollfeld and explains the plant life. This tour lasts about 45 minutes and is often combined with a town tour—one way to bring the town’s history and botany together during your stay.

For learning about the buildings, there is a free leaflet, “A Walk Through Hollfeld’s Historic Old Town.” It contains information and pictures of the buildings and is available from the tourist information office. It provides another source of information for exploring the Old Town, while a town tour offers personal guidance from experienced guides.

The children’s adventure trail in the Kainach Valley offers a different nature experience. Information boards provide details about the flora and fauna, alongside activity stations such as a barefoot path, sound-making logs and tree trunks to climb. On the way back, an animal enclosure with goats is located beside the path. Including this trail in your plans offers, alongside the historic themes, a mix of nature information and hands-on stations.

The Terraced Gardens Throughout the Year

The terraced gardens are on the steep southern slope beneath Hollfeld’s town wall. Plants adapted to a hot, dry climate grow there. The plants mentioned include hardy figs and cacti, native orchids and the rare rock alyssum. The specific plant display may vary depending on the season and maintenance; individual plant selections should therefore not be understood as an exhibition that remains the same all year round.

June and July are when the roses and their companion plants are in full bloom. If the gardens are a main focus of your stay, you can take these months into account when planning your trip. By comparison, town tours are available throughout the year; the approximately 45-minute botanical tour offers its own time frame and is often combined with a town tour. These differences can help you plan your day around the themes and time slots that interest you.

When looking for a holiday apartment, your travel interests can help you decide: would you mainly like to explore the historic Upper Town and fortified tower, are you interested in the seasonal planting, or would you like to include the children’s adventure trail? Hollfeld offers a range of specific themes without requiring them to be combined into a single sightseeing itinerary.

Hollfeld in the Wider Bayreuth Destination

The wider Bayreuth destination offers other landscapes to explore: Franconian Switzerland shapes the western and southern parts of Bayreuth district, while the Fichtelgebirge defines the northern part. The district has a well-maintained network of around 1,400 kilometres of cross-country ski trails, hiking trails and cycle paths. When choosing a holiday apartment, you can therefore weigh up whether Hollfeld’s history, guided tours and gardens should be the main focus, or whether you would also like to plan around other natural areas and trails in Bayreuth district.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Plankenfels, Aufseß, Bischofsgrün, Weidenberg, Gefrees, Ahorntal, Glashütten, Fichtelberg.

To the wider travel overview: Bayreuth.