Lixenried combines a distinctive rock massif with two differently designed hiking trails and a history of its own. The rock labyrinth above the village, a signposted circular route and a trail that returns along the same route offer different experiences. The branch church, village chapel, Waldlerhaus and archaeological findings add cultural interest to the landscape. When planning your visit, it is worth first deciding whether you would like to focus on a circular hike, an out-and-back route or local history.
Rock Massif and Hiking Trails
The Lixenried rock labyrinth is a rock massif above Lixenried, accessible via a winding path on a mountain slope. Massive individual boulders, narrow passages and crawl-through gaps shape the rock formations. They extend to the highest point of the GeiĂźriegel at an elevation of 746 m. Massive rocks and narrow passages thus sit side by side, with the GeiĂźriegel marking the named high point.
The signposted Fu24 circular hiking trail, named the Lixenried Rock Labyrinth, starts and ends at the Lixenried Cemetery hiking car park. The 4.9 km loop passes over the Geißriegel and Keilhöhe. It is listed as taking around 1.5 hours and covering 306 metres of elevation gain. The distance, approximate duration and elevation gain give you a specific basis for planning your hike. It is worth checking the latest route information before setting out.
The Fu06, the Lixenried Trail, follows a different route: it passes along Eichertweg and the edge of the forest on Grabitzer Berg, as well as the “Kerschbaumriegel” hiking car park north of Ränkam and Kühberg, before reaching the mountain village of Lixenried at an elevation of 534 m. The return journey follows the same route. The key difference when choosing between them is the route type: Fu24 is a loop, while Fu06 is an out-and-back trail to the mountain village.
Church, Chapel and Waldlerhaus
The branch church of Maria Königin in Lixenried belongs to the parish of Gleißenberg. It was consecrated in 1963 and dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God. Its patronal feast day falls on 22 August.
Local building styles also tell different stories. The village chapel of St. Bartholomew at Kirchenweg 3 is a gable-facing building with a hipped gable roof, a roof turret with a pointed roof and plaster detailing. It was built around 1750 and altered around 1900. The Waldlerhaus at Kirchenweg 2 dates from the first half of the 19th century. It is a two-storey, gable-facing building with a shallow-pitched gable roof and a timber-frame upper storey, and is partly clad.
The archaeological heritage also includes underground remains of the former early modern castle, preserved in Lixenried. Alongside the buildings described here, these remains offer traces of another chapter in the area’s building history.
More cultural highlights in the wider destination of Furth im Wald
In the wider destination of Furth im Wald, the Further Drachenstich is performed every year and is considered Germany’s oldest folk play. Beneath Furth im Wald, the Further Rock Tunnels form an underground labyrinth several kilometres long; they were carved into the gneiss from the late Middle Ages onwards.
The Japanese Garden in Furth im Wald is freely accessible and can be visited at any time; guided tours are available for groups. A western and an eastern dragon symbolise a meeting at which they make peace. Check the opening conditions before your visit. The Further Dragon, regarded as the world’s largest walking robot, has also stood in Furth im Wald since 2010. From April to October, it is housed in its dragon’s cave at the Further festival grounds.
When looking for a holiday apartment in Lixenried, the focus you want for your stay can be a useful starting point: the rock massif and the Fu24 loop, the return route on Fu06, or the local architectural and church history.
For the wider travel overview: Furth Im Wald.
