Marktschorgast offers two clearly distinct focuses for planning your trip: local history, with churches and a market square, and hiking options ranging from an unmarked route to a trail exploring the history of technology.

Churches, market square and local history

The late Gothic parish church of St. James the Elder in Marktschorgast was first mentioned in 1109. The late medieval defensive wall, including the “Snail Tower,” is preserved at the churchyard. Another link to the town’s church history is the Evangelical Association of Marktschorgast, founded in 1898 to advocate for the construction of its own Protestant church. The baptismal font, altar and pulpit of the Church of the Holy Trinity are made of reddish Vogtland granite.

A listed row of colorful Biedermeier façades defines the townscape of the Historic Market Square. The houses are predominantly two-storey rendered buildings with sandstone detailing and segmental-arched passageways. Below the square, the Florian Fountain dates from 1685. Together, these details offer several points of interest for a stroll focused on church architecture, façades and historic features.

A historic coat of arms stone in the administrative building of Marktschorgast Town Hall can be viewed during opening hours. Check the current town hall opening hours before your visit.

Herb garden and small park

In Unteranger, there is an herb garden featuring a variety of unusual medicinal, fragrant and culinary plants. Check whether the garden is accessible before your visit. Stöcklein Pond, behind the parish church, has been turned into a small park that provides a habitat for ducks and goldfish. This places a variety of plant and nature themes alongside the town’s historic attractions.

Choose hiking routes by their course

The hiking options differ not only in length but also in their course. A 9-kilometer unmarked hiking route leads from Marktschorgast to Neuenmarkt. The 11-kilometer circular route goes via Weißenstein and back to Marktschorgast. If returning to your starting point is important to you, the second route offers this circular format; when planning the first, take into account that it ends in Neuenmarkt and is unmarked.

Another option is the approximately 8-kilometer trail exploring the engineering and architectural history of the “Schiefe Ebene” railway incline. It leads to the incline’s most striking engineering structures, with a distinct focus on their construction and technological history. The routes’ lengths and formats can help you choose based on the course you prefer. Check local signage for the circular route; conditions on the trail may also vary.

More highlights in the wider Kulmbach destination

In the wider Kulmbach destination, the German Steam Locomotive Museum in Neuenmarkt preserves more than 30 steam locomotives in a railway landscape shaped by its history. The nature trail on Kulmbach’s Rehberg takes a different approach: it is about 4 kilometers long and has 21 learning stations. These regional examples complement the local history and hiking options that characterize Marktschorgast itself.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Trebgast, Mainleus, Marktleugast, Wirsberg, Untersteinach, Wonsees, Kulmbach, Himmelkron

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