Upper Franconia, Middle Franconia and Lower Franconia meet in Steigerwald. Forest trails, regional architecture and Franconian traditions offer different ways to experience the region.
Hiking Trails and Nature Experiences
The Steigerwald Treetop Walkway runs for 1,150 m through the deciduous-forest-rich Ebrach Forest and is barrier-free. A much longer route is the Steigerwald Panorama Trail: stretching 161 km, it crosses the Steigerwald and has been certified as a quality hiking trail six times in a row. For short outings or multi-day hikes, ten trekking sites in the northern Steigerwald offer a fire pit, toilet and camping area. There is also a well-developed network of cycling routes.
Forest and Cultural Landscape
Most of the Steigerwald lies within the nature park. Some of Germany’s oldest beech trees have survived here. The landscape features gently rolling hills, vineyards, extensive beech forests, broad valleys, meadows and carp ponds.
In the southern Steigerwald, the 125 most beautiful natural attractions were selected from almost 200 suggestions across six categories. Signs and information panels identify the sites for visitors. The communal forests in the Steigerwald and neighboring regions of Franconia are also part of the region’s long-established cultural landscape: they have been tended and sustainably managed for centuries according to traditional rules passed down from generation to generation.
Cultural Heritage and Events
The Holy Blood Festival takes place in Burgwindheim every year, eight days after Corpus Christi. The festival includes a church service followed by the Great Blood Procession through the town. Since 2026, the festival has held the title of intangible cultural heritage in Bavaria.
Ebrach is an important place for exploring the history and lasting influence of the Cistercians on the landscape, culture and society. The basilica of Ebrach Cistercian Abbey is considered a unique example of early Gothic architecture in Germany. Every year, the Ebrach Music Summer brings concerts to the rooms of the former Cistercian monastery.
The tradition of tree-field farming and dried-fruit production in the Steigerwald is also part of the intangible cultural heritage. Both were included in the nationwide Register of Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2018.
Regional Specialties
AischgrĂĽnder mirror carp is served in numerous restaurants from September to April. Another regional specialty is Hutzeln, fruit traditionally dried in Fatschenbrunn. They are available from a farm shop in the village and at local restaurants. Eight small family-run breweries in the Steigerwald have joined together to form the AischgrĂĽnder Beer Route. Mirror carp represents seasonal fish cuisine, while Hutzeln from Fatschenbrunn are a traditional dried fruit.
Getting to Steigerwald
Steigerwald lies between Bamberg, WĂĽrzburg and Nuremberg and can be reached by train, bus or car. If you plan to travel by train or bus, it is best to check your route in advance.
Discover more destinations: Mühldorf Am Inn, Ostallgäu, Ebersberg, Neuburg-Schrobenhausen, Upper Palatinate Forest, Weißenburg-Gunzenhausen, Donau-Ries, Augsburg.
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