Mauth and the National Park Landscape
Mauth lies directly next to the Bavarian Forest and Bohemian Forest national parks. The Bavarian Forest National Park stretches along the Bavarian-Czech border between Bayerisch Eisenstein in the district of Regen and Mauth in the district of Freyung-Grafenau. This gives your travel plans a clear focus on nature: in Mauth, the certified Kingfisher Trail follows the Steinbach to a historic timber-floating structure; the municipality also offers moorland and summer activities. Glass art and local history are additional themes in their own right.
Hiking along the Steinbach and in the Municipality
The Kingfisher Trail in Mauth is certified by the German Hiking Association. It follows the Steinbach upstream to the Steinbachklause, a historic timber-floating structure. The route thus combines a waterside trail with a testament to historic timber floating. One section is closed from 1 December to 31 March; a diversion is signposted. If you plan to hike during this period, take the closed section into account and follow the diversion.
Another natural attraction in the municipality is the restored Finsterauer Filz raised bog. A short detour from the Finsterau Tour leads there. The accessible nature trail runs over wooden boardwalks through the bog; information boards introduce its flora and fauna. This is a different way to explore the landscape from the trail along the Steinbach. Check current conditions before your visit.
The use of the Finsterau cross-country ski trail also changes with the seasons: in summer, it is used as a roller-ski track and prepared for roller skiing, cycling and running. This provides another opportunity to be active there during the warmer months. Check current access conditions locally.
Glass Art and Local History
In the municipality of Mauth, visitors can watch demonstrations of traditional glassmaking at Glasbläserkunst Mauth and, with guidance, blow their own glass bauble. Check directly with the provider before your visit to find out whether and when this activity is available. This lets you plan glass art as a separate activity without assuming a set time for your visit.
An audio station in the center of Mauth is dedicated to Andreas Hartauer and the song “Tief drin im Böhmerwald.” It adds a cultural note to the nature and craftsmanship themes and explores a specific connection to the song’s history.
More Topics in the Wider Freyung-Grafenau Destination
The wider Freyung-Grafenau destination also offers its own nature and cultural themes. The Bavarian Forest National Park extends into the district and opened on 7 October 1970 as Germany’s first national park. In the 2024 zoning map, 75.37 percent of the national park’s area is designated as natural zones. These facts give the park its own historical and landscape context as a regional destination.
In the Buchberger Leite gorge, steep rock ridges shape the deeply incised bed of the boulder-strewn, cascading Wolfsteiner Ohe. Remnants of primeval forest have survived in the moss- and fern-rich gorge woodlands. An eight-kilometer themed hiking trail with information boards and an accompanying brochure runs through the gorge between Freyung and Ringelai. The gorge landscape and trail make this a hiking destination in its own right within Freyung-Grafenau.
For culture, head to Freyung: built around 1700, the Schramlhaus is now the city’s oldest farmhouse and, in its original condition, one of the oldest in the district of Freyung-Grafenau. The house contains more than a hundred original examples of reverse glass painting, a form of religious folk art. The Wolfstein Local History Museum is also housed there.
Near Neuschönau, the Treetop Walk is part of the Lusen National Park Center. The wildlife enclosure offers insights into the national park and its native wildlife. Its circular trails are suitable for small children who cannot yet manage longer distances. These regional themes complement the trails, natural attractions and cultural offerings in and around Mauth without equating them with a single excursion.
Discover More Destinations
Discover more destinations: Finsterau, Spiegelau, Ringelai, Jandelsbrunn, FĂĽrsteneck, Philippsreut, Sankt Oswald-RiedlhĂĽtte, Freyung.
Back to the wider travel overview: Freyung-Grafenau.
