Explore Etzenricht through a range of interests: the Etzenrichter Kirchberg nature reserve with its church, fishing waters, and routes for walking or cycling. The Kirchberg brings nature and local history together at a specific destination; the river and gravel pits offer independent opportunities for fishing.
Kirchberg and St. Nikolaus
The Etzenrichter Kirchberg nature reserve covers 8 ha. A path leads to its highest point, where the church stands. Those interested in its architectural history will find a distinctive historical layer at St. Nikolaus: the church was built in the 14th century, probably using the remains of an older castle complex, as a fortified church with a moat and circular wall. Its origin in the remains of a castle is, however, reported as a possibility rather than a certainty.
Later use also tells the story of the town. From 1663 to 1932, Protestant and Catholic congregations shared St. Nikolaus as a simultaneum church. This shared use is clearly distinct in time from the church’s medieval construction. For cyclists, the church’s location on Route 7 of the Simultankirchen cycle route is also a useful landmark.
Fishing on the river and at the gravel pits
In Etzenricht, an approximately 3 km stretch of the natural Haidenaab is available for fishing. Fish found there include catfish, pike, zander, carp, tench, eel, nase, and various species of whitefish. Other fishing waters include the Etzenricht gravel pit, covering 3.2 ha, and the Schätzlergrube, covering 1.5 ha. Both gravel pits are listed as containing pike, zander, carp, eel, and various species of whitefish; catfish are also found in the Etzenricht gravel pit, and tench in the Schätzlergrube.
The sizes can be compared directly: at 3.2 ha, the Etzenricht gravel pit is just over twice the size of the 1.5 ha Schätzlergrube. By contrast, the approximately 3 km figure for the Haidenaab describes the length of a river stretch, not the surface area of a body of water. The species lists also show a specific difference: catfish are listed for the Haidenaab and the Etzenricht gravel pit, while tench are listed for the Haidenaab and the Schätzlergrube.
Cycling routes, hiking, and a break by the pond
The Haidenaab Cycle Route runs through Etzenricht. For hikers, the town lies on the OWV main hiking trail along the historic Golden Road in the Upper Palatinate. The Blue Pond in Etzenricht is a place to cool off and relax; swimming conditions vary by season. Alongside the fishing waters, visitors can choose from cycling and hiking routes and a place to take a break.
For a local outing, make the Kirchberg and St. Nikolaus the focus; those more interested in fishing can compare the different waters and their sizes. The farm shop at the listed Beutnerhof, also known as “Krautbauer,” sells vegetables daily. Check the sales information before your visit.
A longer cycling tour in the wider destination
In the wider destination of Neustadt An Der Waldnaab, the Bockl offers a separate option for a longer tour: this 52 km route follows a historic railway line from Neustadt an der Waldnaab to Eslarn and can be travelled on foot, by bicycle, or on inline skates. It is mostly paved and traffic-free; gradients rarely exceed 3 percent. These details refer to the Bockl in the wider destination, not to routes in Etzenricht.
The Bockl’s starting point in Neustadt an der Waldnaab is directly accessible by train. Trains run hourly to the terminus of the Nuremberg–Neustadt an der Waldnaab line, where you can transfer directly to a bicycle. Check the timetable before travelling. This regional cycling tour can be considered as a separate option, while the routes, church, and fishing waters in Etzenricht define a visit to the town itself.
To the wider travel overview: Weiherhammer.
