Schirmitz can be explored through two distinctive features: panoramic views across Weiden Bay and its architectural and local history, including St. James, the cemetery and the town hall. This offers a clear choice when planning your trip: landscape views or cultural history. The wider destination of Neustadt an der Waldnaab offers further regional highlights.
Church and local history
St. James is a chancel-tower church: the tower stands directly above the chancel, which is adjoined by a single-nave hall. The term describes a clearly structured architectural form. The church is designed in the GrĂĽnderzeit style, which is now very rare in Bavaria. The three altars and the pulpit provide a different historical reference point; they date from around 1754. When considering these details, it is worth keeping them distinct: the GrĂĽnderzeit style characterizes the design, while the date refers to the furnishings.
Schirmitz cemetery is known for its simple wooden crosses, which are considered unique in Bavaria. At the town hall, the History Fountain tells the story of the town. The cemetery and fountain thus complement the architectural perspective on St. James with their own cultural and local-history themes.
Landscape and panoramic trail
In the southeastern part of the municipality, on the road to Bechtsrieth, a rise offers panoramic views across the entire Weiden Bay. The Panorama Trail also lies east of Schirmitz: it is 4.3 kilometers long and has an elevation gain of 103 meters. Its length and elevation gain provide two specific measures to help you plan your hike. Before setting out, you can check the current route.
Regional excursions in the wider destination of Neustadt an der Waldnaab
The district of Neustadt an der Waldnaab is in the Upper Palatinate Forest destination and offers activities including hiking, cycling, museum visits and swimming in numerous bathing waters. If you are planning a stay beyond Schirmitz, this region offers a range of opportunities for active, cultural and nature-based discoveries.
The Bockl is a 52-kilometer route from Neustadt an der Waldnaab to Eslarn. It follows a historic railway line and can be traveled on foot, by bicycle or on inline skates. The Bockl is mostly paved and traffic-free; gradients rarely exceed three percent. The 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 bicycle. Check the timetable before setting out.
In Parkstein, the basalt cone is the centerpiece of a geological excursion. It was added to the list of Bavaria’s 100 most beautiful geotopes in 2003 and was awarded the designation “National Geotope” in 2006. At Vulkanerlebnis Parkstein, a volcanic eruption is depicted every hour, and you can experience it on three levels; check current show times before your visit. The historic circular route through Parkstein begins at Landrichterschloss, which houses the Vulkanerlebnis Parkstein Museum. Geopark rangers also offer guided tours of the basalt wall, the rock cellars and the basalt cone. Check in advance to see whether tours are available.
Speinshart offers a cultural addition: its monastery church is one of the most significant Baroque buildings in southern Germany and is distinguished by its Italian High Baroque furnishings. The monastery and the preserved historic monastery village of Speinshart together form a cultural asset of European standing. A public guided tour of the monastery church takes place at 3 p.m. every Sunday and public holiday. Check the monastery’s latest information when planning your visit, as times may change.
The Doost is another destination for nature enthusiasts. There, the Girnitzbach flows through a roughly 750-meter stretch of a boulder field made up of large, rounded granite blocks within the nature reserve. Several hiking trails provide access from Neustadt/WN, Weiden and FloĂź.
Discover more destinations: Pirk, Eschenbach in the Upper Palatinate, Windischeschenbach, Luhe-Wildenau, Vorbach, Schwarzenbach, Trabitz, Pressath.
Back to the wider travel overview: Neustadt An Der Waldnaab.
