Schwandorf’s rock cellars combine an extensive underground structure with the history of brewing beer. More than 130 rock cellars carved by hand into Dogger sandstone are located in Schwandorf’s Holz- und Weinberg; they stretch for almost a kilometre from north to south. The first rock cellars in Schwandorf were built in the last quarter of the 15th century or at the beginning of the 16th century, around 1500. Originally, they served as fermentation and storage cellars for beer. The rock cellar labyrinth in Schwandorf is the largest in Bavaria. Its scale and former function give the city’s history a tangible setting.
There is one clear condition for visiting: the rock cellars can only be visited as part of a guided tour. Advance registration or booking at the tourism office at 09431 45 550 is mandatory. Plan your tour in advance and check the booking details before travelling. Visitors can learn more about Schwandorf’s underground world and the “cellar thieves” of the 1930s.
Cultural Sites and City History
The historic Blasturm is also part of the city’s character: it is now considered a landmark of Schwandorf. A visit to the tower is included in city tours. Alongside the city’s underground history, these tours offer further insights into its past.
The Schwandorf City Museum has a new permanent exhibition on the history of the city and the surrounding localities. It is open Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m., and Thursdays from 12:00 noon to 6:00 p.m. Additional visits are possible on request and by arrangement. Check the opening hours before your visit, as they may change.
The Oberpfälzer Künstlerhaus in Fronberg, a district of Schwandorf, regularly presents current work by artists from the region and beyond. Artist talks and guided tours are also offered. A recurring event is the “Kultursommer im Spitalgarten” (Cultural Summer in the Hospital Garden): Schwandorf’s Cultural Affairs Office organises it every two years in the courtyard in front of the town hall and the Spitalkirche Schwandorf. Check the event dates when planning your visit.
Planning Your Stay
The certified tourism office in the historic Pfleghof building is the first point of contact for visitors and residents. There you can pick up cycling and hiking maps as well as brochures about tourist attractions and activities in the region. This is especially useful if you would like to include regional offerings in your plans alongside Schwandorf’s cultural sites.
The offerings have different scheduling requirements: advance registration or booking is mandatory for the rock cellar labyrinth, the city museum has set opening hours and offers additional visits on request, and the Cultural Summer takes place every two years. Plan accordingly, based on the relevant visiting requirements or specific event date.
Schwandorf and the Wider Region
The Schwandorf district is a holiday region in the Upper Palatinate Forest. The Upper Palatinate Lake District in the Schwandorf district is a region shaped by water and diverse landscapes. These regional attractions complement the city’s cultural sites, but are not the same as attractions within the city itself.
The Charlottenhof pond area is located in the wider region. The protected area extends beyond Schwandorf and includes several neighbouring municipalities. Covering 833.0 hectares, it forms a network of habitats made up of around 15 larger ponds and more than 80 medium-sized and small ponds. It is an area of national importance for breeding birds; species found there include the osprey, white-tailed eagle, bluethroat, spotted crake, woodlark and western marsh harrier.
The Upper Palatinate Lake Trail and the Way of St. James pass through the Charlottenhof pond area. Guided tours are regularly offered, with knowledgeable guides sharing information about the landscape. Check the dates of guided tours in advance. For travellers interested in ponds and birdlife as well as city history, the wider region offers a distinct focus of its own.
Discover more destinations: Nittenau, Nabburg, Thanstein, Neukirchen-Balbini, Maxhütte-Haidhof, Trausnitz, Schönsee, Bruck In Der Oberpfalz
See the main travel overview: Schwandorf.
