Weißenbrunn am Forst combines a distinctive valley location with a specific local legend: The U7 Legend Trail East runs mostly through fields, and there is a walk-in witch’s house along the way. Those who consider the landscape, local history and hiking themes when choosing a place to stay will find points of interest here, as well as further hiking destinations in the wider travel destination of Untersiemau.
Valley floor, place name and village history
Weißenbrunn am Forst lies on the northern and southern slopes of a valley floor through which the Märzenteichgraben stream flows. Further on, the stream joins the Itz. The elevations and watercourse provide a specific way to experience the landscape around the village.
The name’s history goes back a long way: Weißenbrunn am Forst was first mentioned in a document in 1317 as “Wizenbrunnen.” The present-day name derives from a well in the castle courtyard. In the past, it supplied the village’s residents with most of their water. This account links the place name to something that was once an important part of everyday life.
Facilities created as part of village renewal are also part of the local landscape. Weißenbrunn am Forst has a new recreational area with a playground and ball court, as well as a new community building with an event space. The idyllic rock cellar was also created as part of the village renewal. The three places serve different purposes: the playground and ball court are part of the recreational area, the event space belongs to the community building, and the rock cellar is another village-renewal facility.
Legend Trail and other routes
The U7 Legend Trail East runs mostly through fields. A small, walk-in witch’s house stands next to the information board about the legend “Siemauer Hexen-Hährle.” You can pose as a witch there for a souvenir photo, bringing the legend to life at a specific stop along the trail. Those who would like to take in a legend as well as the landscape on a hike can experience both here.
Another route that passes through Weißenbrunn am Forst is the Panorama Tour. This establishes a connection to the village; the U7 Legend Trail East, in turn, has an explicitly legend-related theme, with its fields, information board and witch’s house. The two routes therefore differ in their names and in the local features associated with them.
Hiking destinations in Untersiemau
In the wider travel destination of Untersiemau, the U7 Legend Trail East has its own point of reference: an overview board showing the trail’s legend stops stands at the hiking car park on Coburger Straße. The route leads to the Am Schlossteich recreational area, with its “Piratenbucht” adventure playground and a view of Untersiemau Water Castle. The recreational area there also includes a Kneipp pool and exercise equipment for adults and older people. Benches and seating areas by the Schloßteich offer a view of the pond.
The U4 Stegnersbrunnen circular hiking trail runs from Birkach am Forst through Weißenbrunn am Forst to Untersiemau and back to Birkach am Forst. Untersiemau’s Upper Castle and Lower Castle are among the highlights of this route. The U4 thus explicitly connects the named places in a circular route; the two castles give the section in Untersiemau a cultural theme.
The Planet Trail and the Querkelsteig also invite comparison in terms of length and character. The Planet Trail runs from Schloß Banz to the Sun in Untersiemau, is about 11 kilometres long and takes approximately three hours. The Querkelsteig is also about 11 kilometres long, but is a western circular legend trail. Those also interested in traditional orchards will find a nature trail in Untersiemau that makes it possible to hike alongside such orchards. The Planet Trail, Querkelsteig and nature trail therefore offer different focuses: a route to the Sun, a circular legend trail, and hikes alongside traditional orchards.
Discover more destinations: Weidhausen Bei Coburg, Sesslach, Coburg, Rödental, Niederfüllbach, Ahorn, Dörfles-Esbach, Ebersdorf Bei Coburg.
Go to the wider travel overview: Coburg.
