Numerous ponds shape the landscape of the Upper Palatinate Forest; many are, or were, used primarily for carp farming. This makes a distinctive starting point for planning your trip: you can tailor your stay around cycling routes, hikes, moorland, science or regional food culture. When looking for a holiday apartment, it helps to first decide which experiences should define your stay, then plan the travel dates that suit them.
Cycling routes for different itineraries
The Bockl is a railway-trail cycling route around 52 km long, following the former railway line between Neustadt an der Waldnaab and Eslarn. The Upper Palatinate Cycling World offers a different scale of trip: this cycling circuit of around 500 km through the Upper Palatinate Forest comprises six themed routes ranging from 85 to 155 km. Its main route is a circular tour with eight stages, covering 503 km and 3,600 metres of elevation gain. It starts and ends in Weiden i.d.OPf. and is of moderate difficulty. This makes it easy to distinguish a single cycling route from a multi-stage circular tour by its length and structure.
The Bavarian-Bohemian Friendship Trail connects the medieval towns of Nabburg and Horšovský Týn in the Czech Republic. Its Wölsendorf–Schönsee section follows a former railway line, with moderate gradients. Some of the most popular river cycling routes in the Upper Palatinate Forest include the Naab Valley Cycle Route, the Waldnaab Valley Cycle Route and the Haidenaab Cycle Route. The Waldnaab Valley also offers a range of hiking and cycling routes. If you would like to combine cycling and hiking, you can take these different route options into account when planning.
Ponds, moorland and nature trails
The Prackendorfer and Kulzer Moos is a protected moorland area of more than 80 ha. The Goldsteig trail passes through the moor, linking a hiking route with this landscape. The Waldnaabaue is also strictly protected: it is both a bird sanctuary and a Special Area of Conservation under the Habitats Directive. At the same time, it can be explored on foot or by bicycle; numerous walking and cycling paths cross its pond landscape. The condition of individual paths may vary, so check the condition of the path you plan to use before setting out.
Science, museums and regional specialities
The GEO Centre at the KTB offers guided tours, documentaries and exhibits about two boreholes reaching depths of 4,000 m and 9,101 m, as well as the Earth system studied through deep drilling. Activities at the Upper Palatinate Open-Air Museum include baking farmhouse bread, harvesting potatoes and fishing ponds. Specific dates may vary; check the event schedule if a particular activity is central to your visit.
Zoigl also comes with its own timetable. The beer is brewed in the five communal breweries in Eslarn, Falkenberg, Mitterteich, Neuhaus and Windischeschenbach; Zoigl hosts take turns serving it. Zoigl pubs serve it for limited periods according to a set calendar. They are usually open once a month over a long weekend, although the duration varies from one Zoigl town to another. If you would like to plan your stay around a Zoigl date, check the calendar for the town you are visiting. Another regional speciality, Upper Palatinate carp, has the protected geographical indication (PGI) status. Many pond farmers in the Upper Palatinate Forest have committed to strict quality standards under this designation.
Discover more destinations: Ingolstadt, Donau-Ries, Franconian Jura, Schwandorf, Cham, Chiemgau, Franconian Switzerland, Ansbach
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