Schönberg combines a protected ensemble in the town centre with leisure activities ranging from views and swimming to exercise. The market square and church square, along with the surrounding buildings, are part of the ensemble. This brings architectural history in the centre together with a range of activities, each with its own focus.
Town Centre and Architectural History
Colourful houses in the Inn-Salzach style stand on both sides of the roundabout at the market square. St. Margaretha Catholic Parish Church is at Kirchplatz 1. After a fire, it was rebuilt between 1836 and 1838 by Karl von Montigny as a Neo-Gothic stepped hall church. The different architectural styles give the town centre several points of architectural interest: the houses at the market square and the church’s building history.
Views and Leisure in Schönberg
The 30-metre-high observation tower on Kadernberg was inaugurated in 1975. More than 120 steps lead to the covered viewing platform. If you are planning a dedicated visit to the tower, it is advisable to check current access arrangements in advance. Schönberg Leisure Pool offers a different experience: it is solar-heated and has an 84-metre-long water slide, a leisure pool and a children’s pool. Check the current opening hours before visiting the pool.
The fitalPARC Schönberg is an outdoor fitness trail with equipment for training coordination and strength. This adds a fitness option to the activities centred on views and water. Another option nearby is the small Reinsberger Park, a recreation area on a hill south of Schönberg. Its facilities include a pavilion, a fountain and a playground.
Freyung-Grafenau as the Wider Destination
For a broader perspective, it is worth looking at the wider destination of Freyung-Grafenau, located in the tri-border region of Bavaria, Bohemia and Austria. Bavarian Forest National Park extends into the district of Freyung-Grafenau and was opened on 7 October 1970 as Germany’s first national park. The 2024 zoning map designates 75.37 percent of its area as natural zones.
One distinctive landscape in the wider destination of Freyung-Grafenau is the Buchberger Leite Wild Gorge. There, steep rock ridges force the boulder- and cascade-filled Wolfsteiner Ohe into a deeply constricted channel; remnants of primeval forest have survived in the moss- and fern-rich gorge woodlands. An eight-kilometre themed hiking trail, with information boards and an accompanying brochure, runs through the Buchberger Leite between Freyung and Ringelai. Historic timber-floating walls, tunnels cut into the rock and surface canals bear witness to centuries of human activity. Here, the natural environment and cultural landscape can be explored together.
The Schramlhaus in Freyung also offers a distinct focus on cultural history in the wider destination of Freyung-Grafenau. Built around 1700, it is now the oldest farmhouse in Freyung and, in its original state, one of the oldest in the district. It houses more than a hundred original examples of reverse glass painting, a form of sacred folk art. The Wolfstein Local History Museum is also located there. Architectural history, collection and museum come together in one place.
The buildings at the Gabreta Archaeological Adventure Park are reconstructions based on original Celtic structures and symbolise Celtic artefacts found on the hill of Paul Freund. Bread baking is one of the hands-on activities for visitors; expert-led tours about Celtic life can also be booked. As the visitor programme may change, it is advisable to check the current offer in advance.
Near Neuschönau, the Treetop Walk is part of the Lusen National Park Centre. The animal enclosure there offers insights into the national park and its native wildlife. The circular trails are suitable for small children who are not yet able to walk long distances. Thus, alongside cultural and landscape attractions, the wider destination of Freyung-Grafenau also offers circular walks specifically designed to cover shorter distances.
Discover more destinations: Sankt Oswald, Sankt Oswald-Riedlhütte, Haidmühle, Philippsreut, Röhrnbach, Eppenschlag, Innernzell, Waldkirchen
View the wider travel guide: Freyung-Grafenau.
