Upper Palatinate Forest
Accommodation in Upper Palatinate Forest
Numerous ponds characterize the Upper Palatinate Forest. Many of them are, or were, used primarily for carp farming. This pond landscape gives the region a distinctive character and combines nature experiences with a long-established form of economic activity. If you are looking for a holiday apartment in the Upper Palatinate Forest, you can consider whether ponds and trails, longer cycling tours or regional culture should be the focus of your trip.
File:Naturpark Oberpfaelzer Wald topomap.png
Photo: Periphrastika via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Ponds, moorland and protected landscapes
The Prackendorfer and Kulzer Moos is a protected moorland area covering more than 80 ha. The Goldsteig trail runs through the area. The Waldnaabaue, meanwhile, is strictly protected as a bird sanctuary and a Flora-Fauna-Habitat site. Its pond landscape can be explored on foot or by bicycle, with numerous walking and cycling paths crossing the area. For those who enjoy spending time outdoors, this offers different ways to experience the landscape: the moorland and Goldsteig on the one hand, and the paths through the pond landscape of the Waldnaabaue on the other.
There are also various walking and cycling routes in the Waldnaab Valley. In the Upper Palatinate Forest, the Naab Valley Cycle Route, the Waldnaab Valley Cycle Route and the Haidenaab Cycle Route are among the most popular riverside cycling routes. When planning your trip, it is worth using the names and routes of the trails you want to follow as a starting point for choosing where to stay, rather than grouping all your outings under a single type of route.
Cycling routes at different scales
The Bockl is a railway-line cycle path about 52 km long, following the former railway line between Neustadt an der Waldnaab and Eslarn. Its length and two endpoints give you a concrete reference point if you want this route to shape your trip. The Bavarian-Bohemian Friendship Route connects the medieval towns of Nabburg and Horšovský Týn in the Czech Republic. On the Wölsendorf–Schönsee section, it follows a former railway line with moderate inclines. This information applies to the section named.
The Upper Palatinate Cycling World offers a broader perspective: the cycling circuit through the Upper Palatinate Forest is about 500 km long and comprises six themed routes, each between 85 and 155 km. Its main route is a circular tour with 8 stages and a total length of 503 km, with 3,600 metres of elevation gain. The difficulty level is moderate, and the start and finish are in Weiden i.d.OPf. These details help distinguish a single stage from a multi-day tour and tailor your trip to the type of route you want.
Zoigl and carp traditions
Zoigl is also part of the region’s character. Zoigl is brewed in the five communal breweries in Eslarn, Falkenberg, Mitterteich, Neuhaus and Windischeschenbach, and is served in rotation by Zoigl hosts. Serving follows a set Zoigl calendar and is limited to specific times. The Zoigl pubs are usually open once a month over a long weekend; opening hours vary from one Zoigl town to another. So if you want to experience Zoigl, the location is just as important as the right date.
Carp is also closely linked to pond farming: Upper Palatinate carp has the protected geographical indication g.g.A. Many pond farmers in the Upper Palatinate Forest have committed to strict quality standards under this label. In the wider travel region of Bavaria, traditional carp pond farming is also listed in the nationwide register of intangible cultural heritage. Activities at the Upper Palatinate Open-Air Museum include baking farmhouse bread, harvesting potatoes and fishing ponds. These examples offer insights into different aspects of regional culture and agriculture.
Science and further discoveries
The GEO Centre at the KTB offers another perspective on the region. It has guided tours, documentaries and exhibits about the two boreholes, at depths of 4,000 m and 9,101 m, as well as the Earth system, which is studied through deep drilling. The range of possible discoveries thus extends from landscapes and cycling routes to geoscientific topics.
When looking for a holiday apartment, you can first decide which of these interests will shape your trip: a route such as the Bockl, paths in the Waldnaabaue, the Zoigl towns, or pond and carp traditions. The places and routes mentioned offer different starting points for choosing where to stay, without every trip needing to have the same focus.
More destinations: Regensburg, Lindau, Ebersberg, Kelheim, Inn-Salzach, Eichstätt, Neustadt A.D.Aisch-Bad Windsheim, Dachau.
For the overview of the wider travel region: Bavaria.
