Bärnau offers several distinct highlights for a stay: the German Button Museum and the old town walking tour showcase cultural and urban history. Outdoors, options range from the cycling network and the Borderland Nature Trail to activities at the Moor Pond. Silberhütte offers sports activities year-round, plus cross-country skiing when snow conditions are good. This lets you include culture, exercise and winter activities in your plans according to your interests.

Cultural history at the History Park and Button Museum

During your visit, Bärnau-Tachov History Park provides free audio tours for your own smartphone, as well as audio guides in German, Czech and English. No download is required to use the smartphone option. The different languages offer practical guidance when choosing an audio guide.

The German Button Museum has been housed in the town of Bärnau’s former communal brewery since 1998. It displays buttons spanning four centuries and made from 26 different materials. The collection also includes machines and equipment used in earlier button-making methods. This means the focus is not only on finished objects but also on historical manufacturing techniques. The contrast with the History Park is clear: there, audio guides accompany visitors, while at the Button Museum, the variety of button materials and the equipment used to make them take center stage.

Sports and outdoor activities

Silberhütte is located within the municipal area of Bärnau, at an elevation of about 850 metres above sea level, and serves year-round as a starting point for competitive and recreational sports activities. Snow conditions are key for cross-country skiing: when conditions are good, a network of more than 50 kilometres of trails is available. Individual trails are 2 to 18 kilometres long and can be skied in classic or skating style. Check the snow conditions if you are planning a winter outing.

There is a well-marked cycling network around Bärnau, with routes for leisure cyclists and competitive athletes. These two groups represent different approaches to cycling—from leisurely tours to sporting ambitions. Cycling can therefore be a focus of your activities, whether you prefer a relaxed pace or a more performance-oriented ride.

The Borderland Nature Trail borders the Moor Pond and is suitable for hiking. The Moor Pond is freely accessible at all times; rowing and swimming are possible, but there is no lifeguard on duty. There is no lifeguard on duty. Hiking the nature trail and enjoying water activities are therefore distinct options at the Moor Pond.

Old Town and Steinberg

On a walking tour of Bärnau’s old town, you can discover the history and present-day character of the oldest town in the Stiftland region. Group bookings and open guided tours are available. Check the current schedule before making firm plans for your visit.

Near Bärnau, on Steinberg, stands the Tilly Redoubt, a preserved archaeological monument from the Thirty Years’ War. Built in 1621 as a defensive structure, it is about 300 metres from the Borderland Tower. This links a specific place to a clearly dated historical function.

Also on Steinberg, the pilgrimage path runs through an avenue of lime, elm and maple trees more than 200 years old, with Stations of the Cross along the way. The avenue is designated a natural monument. Here, the tree-lined avenue and the stations take center stage, while the Tilly Redoubt represents a fortification from the Thirty Years’ War. The natural monument designation applies to the avenue.

Discover more destinations: Waldershof, Wiesau, Friedenfels, Kemnath, Erbendorf, Falkenberg, Neualbenreuth, Tirschenreuth.

Return to the main travel overview: Tirschenreuth.