In Vohenstrauß, Renaissance architecture, local history and trails through nature exist side by side. Friedrichsburg Castle shapes the town’s cultural character; the local history museum and gemstone museum focus on different subjects, while the Pfalzgraf-Friedrich Trail connects nature and history.

Friedrichsburg Castle: Landmark and Cultural Venue

Built between 1586 and 1593 by Count Palatine Friedrich, the castle is a landmark of Vohenstrauß and a testament to the history of Palatinate-Neuburg. It is one of the most notable castle buildings in the Upper Palatinate. The three-storey Renaissance building has a steep gabled roof and five round towers with pointed helmets—distinctive features that characterize its architecture.

Cultural events take place at Friedrichsburg Castle throughout the year. Its rooms host exhibitions by regional artists and performances by the Vohenstrauß Town Theatre. An annual classic car meet is also held on the castle grounds, and the events calendar includes a romantic Advent market. Individual programmes may change. If you are planning your trip around an event, check the announced dates in advance.

Local History and Minerals

The town’s local history museum is housed in a 18th-century farmhouse once occupied by a farmer-citizen. Its collections explore former living and working conditions, as well as the town’s history and industrial past, including glass and porcelain. Other topics include agriculture and religious folk art, along with archaeological finds in and around Vohenstrauß.

Guided tours of the local history museum are available for groups or school classes by prior arrangement with the tourist office at 09651/922230. If you plan to take a tour, contact the office in advance and confirm the date.

The “Treasures of the Upper Palatinate” gemstone museum focuses on minerals from the Upper Palatinate. Exhibits include fluorite and barite from the Wölsendorf fluorspar district, red, yellow and green garnet crystals, the Hagendorf local collection and rose quartz from Pleystein. Beryl, a precursor to emerald, is also a key focus. The two museums therefore have quite different emphases: the local history museum looks at life and the history of the town, while the gemstone museum focuses on minerals and regional examples.

Hiking and Cycling Routes with Different Themes

The 16.5-kilometre Pfalzgraf-Friedrich Trail is a nature and history educational trail dedicated to the builder of Friedrichsburg Castle. Six information panels explain the natural and cultural factors that shaped historic settlement activity, including drinking water supply, energy resources and transport links. The circular hike is 16.5 kilometres long; if you start and finish at Friedrichsburg Castle, the overall distance increases by 3 kilometres. Follow the local signposts.

Another route focuses on simultaneous churches: Route 9 of the Simultankirchen cycle route starts at the Evangelical Town Church in Vohenstrauß and first leads to St. John the Baptist Simultaneous Church in Altenstadt. It then follows the Bockl cycle path to Flossenbürg, where you can visit the simultaneous churches of St. Pankratius, before returning to Vohenstrauß via Waldkirch and Pleystein. The educational trail offers a nature and history theme; the cycling route connects several named church stops along its described course.

Nature Park and Natural Swimming Pool

The entire municipal area of Vohenstrauß lies within the Northern Upper Palatinate Forest Nature Park. The aims of the nature park designation include opening up suitable areas of landscape for recreation and enjoyment of nature and making them accessible to the public—as long as the capacity of the natural environment and the landscape allows.

The Vohenstrauß natural swimming pool has a 50-metre swimming area, as well as a non-swimmer area with a water depth of 0.10 to 1.20 metres and a swimming area with a water depth of 1.20 to 3.80 metres. Facilities also include a water slide, a sand and water playground, a water trampoline, a diving board and two beach volleyball courts. These measurements help distinguish the different areas of the pool.

Choose Accommodation to Suit Your Travel Plans

If you are looking for a hotel in Vohenstrauß, first decide what you want to focus on during your stay: the castle and museums offer cultural and historical discoveries, the Pfalzgraf-Friedrich Trail focuses on nature and settlement history, and the cycle route takes you from one church stop to the next.

Discover More Destinations

Discover more destinations: Böhmischbruck, Störnstein, Moosbach, Kirchendemenreuth, Kohlberg, Georgenberg, Waldthurn, Pressath.

Back to the main travel overview: Neustadt An Der Waldnaab.