Schwand combines architectural details with tangible traces of local history. At the heart of the village stands a wayside chapel on the Five Chapels Trail; a wayside cross commemorates the return from the First World War. Those wishing to take in the surrounding landscape can head to a destination on the Schwander Höhe along the circular “Um den Forkelknock KU 55” hiking trail. Schwand thus brings together local history and a named hiking destination.
Chapel and distinctive buildings
The wayside chapel in Schwand is a light-colored stone building with a pitched, slate-covered roof. Inside are six statues of saints, wall paintings and, on the altar, an elevated statue of Saint Mary of Lourdes. The present-day chapel is a new building: the original chapel was demolished in 1998. The three Wunder brothers built the current chapel together with other dedicated neighbors.
The Zur Sonne inn at Schwand 9 also shapes the village’s appearance with its historic architecture. The two-storey building with a hipped roof dates from the early 19th century. Sandstone surrounds and rusticated corner blocks are defining features of the building. The chapel and the inn show different architectural sides of Schwand: here, a light-colored stone building with religious imagery; there, a historic building with a hipped roof and sandstone details.
Memorial sites and history
On the way to the village inn in Schwand, a wayside cross stands behind a garden fence. It is 115 centimeters tall and stands on a 1.50-meter-high stone base. It was erected in 1920 in gratitude for the return from the First World War. A memorial stone by the fire station commemorates 850 years of Schwand. Both sites connect a tangible memorial to a different aspect of local history.
The name of the village district is explained as deriving from “Schwenden,” a method of slash-and-burn land clearance. A medieval road is another historical feature preserved in local accounts: it once passed by Eisenberg, went through Vorderreuth and continued on to Schwand. These two references highlight different aspects—the origins of the village district and an earlier route connecting several places.
Hiking destination and Erlebnisachse
The circular “Um den Forkelknock KU 55” hiking trail leads to the Schwander Höhe. There, a covered seating area offers impressive views. The hill is a clearly named destination on the route; the viewpoint and seating area complement the historical sites with a focus on the landscape.
In the center of Schwand, the “Erlebnisachse Steinachtal” app brings history to life at the starting point. There is also a small playground on the edge of the village for visitors. For planning purposes, these can be seen as different points of interest: local history in the center, a viewpoint on the circular hiking trail and a playground on the outskirts.
Stadtsteinach as a wider travel destination
In the wider travel destination of Stadtsteinach, the Marterlrundwanderweg begins at St. Michael’s town parish church. The church stands at the highest point of the hill on which the town is built. Its 56-meter-high west tower is visible from afar and is considered a landmark of the town. After the devastating fire of 1903, the church was completely rebuilt in 1904 and 1905. Stadtsteinach thus offers its own historic starting point, while the Schwander Höhe is the named hiking destination in Schwand.
At the southern end of Stadtsteinach’s town hill, the Marienkapelle stands just outside the town wall. It is considered Stadtsteinach’s oldest building and probably one of the oldest churches in all of northern Bavaria. The Christophorusbrunnen is located in the market square and depicts Saint Christopher with the Christ Child on his right shoulder.
The Stadtsteinach local history museum has 250 square meters of exhibition space in 13 rooms. Its collections include tools from traditional crafts, exhibits on agriculture and forestry, machinery, objects related to popular religious devotion, town, church and school history, as well as a natural history collection. The museum is temporarily closed while its exhibits are being inventoried; check its current admission status before visiting.
For the wider travel overview: Stadtsteinach.
