Discover Waldthurn

History by the pond and on the Fahrenberg

Ten information boards on the Waldthurn History Trail are located around the pond at the leisure complex. They tell the story of the Waldthurn area, from the Stone Age to the territorial reform. The boards provide a chronological overview for anyone who would like to start by learning about local history; the walk is easy to distinguish thematically from hikes or other sightseeing.

The pilgrimage church of the Visitation of Mary on the Fahrenberg above Waldthurn offers a different historical perspective. According to tradition, a member of a religious order brought a statue of the Virgin Mary from the Holy Land in 1204. A chapel was built beside a castle, and the image of Mary was placed there for veneration; according to tradition, this marked the beginning of the pilgrimage to the Fahrenberg. The altarpiece on the left side altar depicts the meeting between Mary and Elizabeth.

Hiking trails with different focuses

The 10-kilometre Kneipp circular hiking trail starts at the leisure complex on the eastern edge of town, on the road to Neuenhammer. It passes through woodland and meadows; in the Fahrenberg area, viewpoints look out across the Upper Palatinate. The route combines scenic views with a clearly identified starting point and a stated distance.

The Nature and Culture Trail is a circular route around the market town of Waldthurn. Information boards along the trail cover nature, history and culture. There is also an observation tower, called the Motte because of its shape. If you prefer to explore the surrounding area through a specific nature and culture theme, this trail offers a different focus from the History Trail by the pond.

Another circular hike starts at the OWV Waldthurn ski hut, where there is a car park on the road to Neuenhammer. The route is 10.5 kilometres long and runs alongside the cross-country skiing area. The Fahrenberg cross-country ski centre lists trails measuring 2, 4, 7 and 12 kilometres, with difficulty levels ranging from easy to moderate; the starting point is the Waldthurn–Neuenhammer car park. Check current conditions before setting out on a winter trip.

More places to discover in Waldthurn and the region

The Waldthurn bike park, also known as the pump track, is located at Badeweiher 32. Anyone interested in technical and local history can also consider visiting the Potato Technology Museum, one of Waldthurn’s three small museums.

The wider destination of Neustadt An Der Waldnaab also offers a regional perspective on hiking, cycling, museum visits and swimming in numerous bathing waters. One cycling option there is the Bockl: this 52-kilometre route follows a historic railway line from Neustadt an der Waldnaab to Eslarn and can be used on foot, by bike or on inline skates. It is mostly paved and traffic-free, with gradients rarely exceeding 3 percent. This regional route offers a different kind of cycling outing from the pump track in Waldthurn.

When choosing a holiday apartment, you can consider whether to devote your stay mainly to the local hiking trails and the history of the Fahrenberg, or to include other destinations in the wider area as well.

Discover more destinations: Georgenberg, Schwarzenbach, Weiden In Der Oberpfalz, Kohlberg, Windischeschenbach, Moosbach, Floß, Waidhaus.

View the wider travel overview: Neustadt An Der Waldnaab.