The district of Neustadt an der Waldnaab is part of the Upper Palatinate Forest destination. Hiking, cycling, museum visits and swimming in numerous bathing spots are among the activities available here. There are also special destinations such as the Parkstein basalt cone, Speinshart Abbey and the Bockl railway trail. You can tailor your stay to what you want to experience: exercise on a long route, geological features or cultural history.
Explore the Bockl by train or bike
The Bockl follows a historic railway line from Neustadt an der Waldnaab to Eslarn and is 52 kilometres long. You can use the route on foot, by bike or on inline skates. It is mostly paved and traffic-free, and its gradients rarely exceed three percent.
The Bockl starting point in Neustadt an der Waldnaab is directly accessible by train. Trains run every hour to the terminus of the Nuremberg–Neustadt an der Waldnaab line, where you can transfer directly to your bike. Check the timetable before travelling if you plan to arrive by train.
Basalt and history in Parkstein
The Parkstein basalt cone was added to the list of Bavaria’s 100 most beautiful geotopes in 2003 and received the designation “National Geotope” in 2006. Geopark rangers offer guided tours of the basalt wall, the rock cellars and the basalt cone. At the Vulkanerlebnis Parkstein, a volcanic eruption is staged every hour, which visitors can experience on three levels. Check the dates for tours and the show before your visit.
A historical walking tour is also described in Parkstein. It starts at Landrichterschloss, which houses the Vulkanerlebnis Parkstein Museum. This means visitors can explore geological themes or take a tour with a historical focus.
Monastic culture and guided tours
Speinshart Abbey Church is one of the most significant Baroque buildings in southern Germany. Its interior is notable for its Italian High Baroque style. Together with the surviving historic monastery village, the abbey is a cultural asset of European significance. A public guided tour of the abbey church takes place every Sunday and public holiday at 3 p.m. As tour times may change, it is a good idea to check the latest information before setting off.
You can also discover Neustadt’s Baroque garden on a guided tour. If you are interested, contact the Neustadt an der Waldnaab District Office.
Hiking trails and a second cycling option
In the Doost nature reserve, the Girnitzbach flows through a field of massive, rounded granite boulders along a stretch of about 750 metres. The stretch can be reached via several hiking trails from Neustadt/WN, Weiden or FloĂź.
Another cycling option is the Waldnaab Valley–Parkstein–KTB e-bike geotour, which runs from Windischeschenbach towards Neustadt an der Waldnaab and climbs up to Parkstein. Unlike the Bockl, this route takes a different course and includes the climb mentioned above; route details may change. Check the route description before setting out.
Zoigl tradition and a place of remembrance
In Windischeschenbach, 17 Zoigl hosts, including 12 traditional communal brewers, take turns serving this beer speciality in their Zoigl taverns on weekends. As numbers and serving dates may change, it is a good idea to check which dates fit your stay before travelling.
The Flossenbürg Concentration Camp Memorial Site offers a very different focus. For a first visit, the exhibition “Flossenbürg Concentration Camp 1938–1945” in the former camp laundry is recommended.
Discover more destinations
Discover more destinations: Tännesberg, Weiden in der Oberpfalz, Vohenstrauß, Neustadt an der Waldnaab, Windischeschenbach, Grafenwöhr, Waidhaus, Pressath, Floß, Moosbach, Flossenbürg, Waldthurn, Eslarn, Theisseil, Störnstein, Pleystein, Weiherhammer, Eschenbach in der Oberpfalz, Schirmitz, Luhe-Wildenau, Parkstein, Leuchtenberg, Schwarzenbach, Kohlberg, Kirchenthumbach, Trabitz, Vorbach, Kirchendemenreuth, Georgenberg.
Go to the regional travel overview: Bavaria.
