Winklarn’s reverse glass painting and St. Andreas Parish Church offer two different ways to explore the town’s history. There are also two Marterl trails, whose details differ in difficulty, length, elevation gain and duration. If you are planning to go hiking, you can compare the routes based on these specific differences.
Reverse glass painting: a local tradition
The Winklarn School was a local tradition of reverse glass painting. Members of the Roth, Ruff and Wellnhofer families practised it in Winklarn as a sideline from the mid-18th century to the early 20th century. The paintings mainly depict religious subjects. Their connection to the town, the family names and the period make this art tradition a distinctive part of Winklarn’s history.
The Documentation Centre for Winklarn Reverse Glass Painting is dedicated to this subject. The free exhibition is located at Thomas-Aquinus-Rott Primary School in Winklarn–Thanstein, the home town of the reverse glass painters of the Winklarn School.
St. Andreas and its building history
The Catholic Parish Church of St. Andreas in Winklarn was rebuilt in 1826 after the fire of 1822. The Baroque west tower was incorporated into the rebuilding. The sequence is clear: the fire was followed four years later by reconstruction, which integrated the tower. This offers a specific insight into the church’s building history.
Comparing two Marterl trails
Winklarn Marterl Trail 2 is a moderately difficult circular hiking trail, 11.3 kilometres long, with 213 metres of elevation gain and a duration of 2 hours and 49 minutes. It starts in Winklarn-Schneeberg. Winklarn Marterl Trail 3 starts in Winklarn-Muschenried. A route description last updated on 24 February 2022 describes it as an easy circular hiking trail, 10.9 kilometres long, with 165 metres of elevation gain and a duration of 3 hours and 10 minutes.
According to these figures, Marterl Trail 2 is 0.4 kilometres longer and has 48 metres more elevation gain, but takes 21 minutes less. Difficulty, distance and duration are therefore different points of comparison. Before setting out, it is especially worth checking the latest route information for Marterl Trail 3.
The nature park and Schwandorf’s regional context
Winklarn is part of the Upper Palatinate Forest Nature Park. Schwandorf provides the broader regional context: Schwandorf district is a holiday destination in Bavaria’s Upper Palatinate Forest. The Upper Palatinate Lake District in the district is a region shaped by water and varied landscapes. The gneiss at Hochfels in Schwandorf district is also part of this broader regional picture; it was included in Bavaria’s list of the 100 most beautiful geotopes.
The district’s natural attractions also include the Wald- und Heidelandschaft nature reserve. It provides a valuable refuge for species that cannot survive in more densely vegetated, nutrient-rich habitats. The Weiher Cycle Route is around 9 kilometres long, signposted throughout in both directions, connects Schwandorf with Lake Murner See and passes through the Charlottenhofer Weiher nature reserve.
The BAXI Museum Route 8402 operates in Schwandorf district for travel to the Upper Palatinate Open-Air Museum. Check the latest service information before travelling. This allows you to explore the regional attractions independently, while Winklarn’s reverse glass painting, church and Marterl trails remain the local highlights.
Discover more destinations: Teunz, Oberlangau
For the broader travel overview: Oberviechtach.
