Discover Kronach

Between the Franconian Forest and the Hills

The larger northeastern part of the district stretches across the Franconian Forest. This densely wooded upland region, with its gently rounded hills, is shaped by numerous valleys and lies at elevations of around 500 to just over 700 metres. In the rest of the district, the terrain gives way to the northern part of the Upper Main Hills. These descend southwest from the Franconian Forest to around 300 to 500 metres and feature varied terrain with escarpments and terraces. The elevations and landscape forms give you an idea of how varied the region is.

Waterways also shape the region’s geography: most of the district lies in the catchment area of the Rodach and its tributaries. They flow southwest towards the Upper Main. If you are looking for a holiday apartment in Kronach, you can consider whether hiking, other outdoor activities or cultural discoveries should be the focus of your trip.

Hiking and Outdoor Activities

A 18-kilometre section of the Rennsteig trail in Thuringia and the Franconian Forest runs through the district of Kronach. There are also hiking trails of varying lengths and difficulty levels: the “Entlang der Marter” FrankenwaldSteigla is a 14.7-kilometre, moderately difficult hiking trail in Kronach. The “Ködeltour” in Steinwiesen is longer, at 17.1 kilometres, and is rated very difficult. These specific differences can help you choose hikes based on distance and stated difficulty.

The 14-kilometre circular trail around the Mauthaus drinking water reservoir is suitable for several types of activity: you can skate, cycle, roller-ski, roller-skate or run there. If you would like to plan activities beyond hiking, this trail offers another way to add variety to your trip.

Castles, Art and Craftsmanship

Rosenberg Fortress combines medieval, Renaissance and Baroque military architecture. The oldest surviving document mentioning the name “Rosenberg” dates from 1249. The Franconian Gallery presents 220 outstanding masterpieces of painting and sculpture from the Late Gothic and Renaissance periods in Franconia, across 1,000 square metres of exhibition space. The fortress’s military history and art from different periods thus offer distinct cultural interests.

Heunischenburg in the district of Gehülz is considered one of the oldest stone castles in Europe north of the Alps and one of the finest defensive structures in Central Europe from the Late Bronze Age. The origins of Mitwitz Water Castle date back to the middle of the 13th century; it acquired its present Renaissance appearance through alterations and additions between 1596 and 1598. Original Baroque wall hangings have been preserved in five rooms, with examples from a later period in other rooms. Guided tours also give visitors a glimpse of the private rooms of the castle’s last residents.

The Teichmühlen Museum in Steinwiesen, which shows how water power was used to cut wood, and the bobbin-lace school in Nordhalben offer further insights into regional culture and work. This arts-and-crafts institution offers hobby courses to visitors. The Rodachtal Railway runs from Steinwiesen to Nordhalben with a historic locomotive and carriages.

Getting Around the Region

Route 1609 runs from the district town of Kronach through the Rodach Valley to the spa town of Bad Steben. A bicycle trailer is available on the Radlbus from May to October. On-demand buses take visitors to destinations including Lauenstein Castle. The museum in the main castle has more than 20 rooms featuring armour, weapons and preserved historicist castle furnishings. These include tiled stoves, paintings, and wall and ceiling murals. When choosing your excursions, you can also take the transport services mentioned here into account, alongside the region’s landscapes and culture.

Places in the region to discover as you continue your search include Pressig, Steinwiesen, Wallenfels, Marktrodach, Wilhelmsthal, Nordhalben, Küps, Steinbach am Wald Steinbach Am Wald, Stockheim in Upper Franconia Stockheim In Oberfranken, Ludwigsstadt, Tettau, Teuschnitz, Weißenbrunn, Tschirn, Mitwitz and Kronach.

For the main travel overview: Bavaria.