Porcelain history and architectural heritage on one side, the Eger and hiking trails on the other: Hohenberg an der Eger can be explored through a range of interests. When planning your trip, it helps to consider these highlights separately. The historic sites tell stories of the castle, church and regional industry; the trails follow the Eger or pass through the landscape of the Fichtelgebirge Nature Park.
Porcelain and Architectural History
The Porzellanikon in Hohenberg an der Eger is housed in the former villa of Carl Magnus Hutschenreuther and presents the history of the regional porcelain industry. This connects the subject of porcelain with the history of the town. Visitors can learn about the distinctive features of Dibbern porcelain first-hand by visiting the factory outlet. As factory outlet arrangements can change, check the latest information before your visit.
Hohenberg an der Eger Castle also bears witness to a long history: it was built between 1170 and 1222 to protect an old trade route. The route came from the east, passing through the town of Eger (Cheb) and by Hohenberg. The Confinhaus near the Hohenberger HammermĂĽhle was a quarantine station dating from the late 18th century. Its upper floor is timber-framed, and its gabled roof has been altered. Since 1 March 1996, hikers and cyclists using the border crossing to the Czech Republic near the HammermĂĽhle have passed the Confinhaus before crossing the Eger bridge.
St. Elisabeth Church developed from a small chapel belonging to the castle, which was originally part of the parish of Arzberg. A church visitation record first mentioned it in 1508 as the “Chapel of the Blessed Virgin by Hohenberg Castle.” The interior includes an altar created by Marianne Wendt in 1949, a pulpit and a baptismal font made of reddish terracotta, and a winged altarpiece carved from oak by Albert Sterr in 1952. The Fatima Chapel was built beneath an oak tree in 2005 and consecrated that same year, with a donated statue of Our Lady of Fatima.
Another reminder of the past is the 2.40-metre-high bagpipe player sculpture, made of shell limestone. It was installed in November 1963 at the Eger bridge near the PfeiffermĂĽhle and commemorates Bohemian musicians who travelled to Bavaria in summer during the 19th and early 20th centuries. It was designed by Oswald Hoffmann and made by Ludwig Deller.
The Eger and Hiking Trails
On the German side, the Eger flows through Weißenstadt, Röslau, Marktleuthen and Hohenberg an der Eger. Its course provides habitats with varying nutrient levels; the floodplains are rich in nutrients due to river deposits. The Carolinenquelle is a mineral spring with healing properties on the “Kuppelwiese” in “Kocherrangen” Nature Park, just a few metres from the Eger. A forest road leads from a car park into the Eger floodplain; the spring is a five-minute walk from there. Information boards, including Geopark displays, stand by the spring.
A range of routes can help you plan walks to suit your interests. The “Kaiserweg” themed hiking trail starts in Hohenberg and follows the Eger. Its information boards cover the geology, nature and cultural history of the Eger Valley. Circular Trail 1 follows the Eger downstream, then climbs steeply through Kocherrangen Nature Park, offering views of the valley before returning to the castle square. Check local trail conditions before setting out.
Circular Trail 7 passes the Hirschsprung hydroelectric power station and then reaches the bridge towards Gut Blumenthal, which crosses back to the opposite bank. After a turn-off, the trail follows the riverbank into the Wellerthal valley. These route descriptions offer different points of reference when choosing a walk: the Kaiserweg focuses on the topics covered by its information boards, while Circular Trail 1 features a steep ascent and a return to the castle square.
Landscape and Getting There
Steinberg rises to the west of Hohenberg an der Eger. It is 653 metres high and lies within the Fichtelgebirge Nature Park. Heiligenberg is a protected geotope of considerable geoscientific value. Alongside the routes described above, these landmarks offer points of interest for anyone looking to combine nature with cultural history, distinct from the architectural sites and the Porzellanikon.
Hohenberg an der Eger can be reached by train via Schirnding station and by car via the A 9 and A 93 motorways. When choosing a destination, you can first consider your planned interests: porcelain and local history, hiking trails along the Eger, or the landscape of the nature park. The local attractions provide a concrete starting point for your hotel search, without implying that the sights described all call for the same kind of stay.
For the broader travel overview: Schirnding.
