Zwiesel combines glass art with art in public spaces and a network of marked hiking trails. The sculpture trail, the glass pyramid and the Glass Night, held every year in mid-August, give the town a cultural focus; hiking is a reason to visit in its own right. When choosing what to do, it helps to distinguish between a visit focused on art and glass and a stay geared more towards hiking.
Glass art and art in public spaces
The Zwiesel Sculpture Trail can be explored on foot, in individual sections; most of the artworks are in the town centre. More than 40 works by local artists enhance the trail. The number may change if works are added or removed. The sculpture trail therefore combines walking with viewing art, rather than focusing on a single sightseeing spot.
Another specific example of Zwiesel’s glass culture is the glass pyramid. It consists of 93,665 machine-blown Tritan crystal glasses from the “Neckar” wine-glass series. The glasses were stacked loosely, without adhesive, in 65 tiers. The pyramid puts the material and construction in the foreground, while the sculpture trail brings together works by different local artists. Both offer a connection to art, but in different ways.
Glass Night and underground passages
Zwiesel’s Glass Night takes place every year in mid-August. The town centre hosts glassmaking demonstrations as well as exhibition locations and stands focused on glass. Specific dates and the programme may vary from year to year. If you want to plan your trip around the event, check the relevant event details.
The underground passage system is also part of Zwiesel’s history: in times of hardship and distress, it helped people survive by providing escape routes, hiding places and storerooms. Confirmed registration at the tourist information office is required to take part in activities relating to the underground passages.
Hiking and a nearby place
Zwiesel offers a network of well-marked hiking trails with a total length of more than 150 km. The total length of the network may change over time. This offers two different ways to incorporate physical activity into your stay: on the sculpture trail, you combine walking with viewing artworks; when hiking, the trail network takes centre stage.
Nearby, 4 km from Zwiesel, the Stormberger Museum is located in the village hall on the village square of the mountain village of Rabenstein. The location adds another place to explore, although the museum itself is not in Zwiesel.
More to explore in the wider Regen destination
The wider Regen destination has its own cultural, landscape and outdoor activities. In the town of Regen, regular public tours introduce the beer and ice cellars as the historic “Regener Underworld” and explain their history. Another hiking option is the Beer Experience Hike in Regen: it covers about 5 km, with almost half the route running directly alongside the Regen River.
There are 13 terrain trails in and around the town of Regen. The Grubhügel cross-country ski trail in Regen can be used for both skating and classic techniques. Ice skates and equipment can be rented on site at the Regen Ice Sports Centre. These activities have a different focus from the glass art and sculpture trail in Zwiesel, helping you distinguish between culture, hiking and winter sports.
The landscape attractions also belong to the wider Regen destination: the quartz rocks near Weißenstein Castle Ruins were placed under nature protection in 1940 because of their geological significance. The Pfahl near Weißenstein is an important habitat for rare heat- and drought-loving animal and plant species adapted to nutrient-poor locations.
Discover more destinations: Geiersthal, Patersdorf, Ruhmannsfelden, Kollnburg, Drachselsried, Frauenau, Bodenmais.
Back to the overview of the wider destination: Regen.
