Bavarian Forest
With its pristine woodlands, flower-strewn meadows, enchanting high moors, and fascinating wildlife, nature lovers and outdoor enthusiasts certainly get their money's worth in the Bavarian Forest. The low mountain range stretches along the border of Bavaria and the Czech Republic and, together with the Bohemian Forest and adjacent areas, boasts around 6,000 km² of what is considered to be the largest contiguous forest reserve in Central Europe.
Activities in the Bavarian Forest
Attractions in the Bavarian Forest
Highlights
Mega-Mitmach-Museum
Water comes from the tap, right?
The Glass Museum in Passau offers a very special overview of European glass history.More than 15, ...
This unconventional building contains six oversized glass walls, painted with stories, mainly from ...
Schon von Weitem fällt er dem Betrachter ins Auge: der imposante Turm des Alten Rathauses. Bereits ...
Das Kastell umschlossen eine mächtige, mit Türmen versehene Mauer aus großen Quadersteinen und ein ...
Naturbadestelle mit Kinderspielplatz und Beachvolleyplatz. Mitnahme von Hunden nicht erlaubt!
Discover the region
Bavarian Forest National Park
The mountain range of the Bavarian Forest formed about 530 million years ago. At that time, the region was characterized by high and rugged peaks. Over time, wind, the weather, heat, the cold, and general erosion managed to shrink the height of the mountains to the present low range we see today. The most resistance came from the heavy, blue granite, which still remains after softer and more brittle material gave way to erosion.
The Bavarian Forest National Park was created in 1970 as the first of its kind in Germany. With its quiet lakes, dark forests, and deep gorges, it is one of the most rugged regions in Germany. Several areas are designated as primeval forests and are particularly pristine. Animal species such as lynx and otters, which had been thought to be extinct in the region, still live here. Valuable information about the local flora and fauna can be found at the national park's centers and information points.
Along the Bavarian-Czech border between Bayerisch Eisenstein in the district of Regen and Mauth in the district of ...
Outdoor Activities in the Bavarian Forest
The unspoiled nature makes the Bavarian Forest a popular hiking and biking destination. It is here that you can forget everyday life, take a deep breath, enjoy the variety of nature, and hike as far as your feet will take you.
Numerous hiking routes lead through the middle of the forest, past romantic villages and flower-covered meadows and hills. You will find a rich network of local routes as well as long-distance hiking trails, some of which cross the border and lead into the fascinating Bohemian Forest. Or you can hike or cycle along historic trade routes between the Danube and Bohemia, follow the tracks of former salt miners, glass traders, and pandurs and discover the Bavarian Forest and the "Green Roof of Europe" for yourself.
In addition to hiking and biking, you can also enjoy mountaineering, trail running, or jogging. Numerous cross-country ski trails and several ski resorts also attract visitors to the region during the nice winter months.
Enjoy nature in the Bavarian Forest
Sustainability is playing an increasingly important role for travelers when planning their vacations and more and more people are seeking information about sustainable activities even before they make their bookings.
Under the slogan "Refreshingly natural", the Bavarian Forest is already embracing this enthusiasm for sustainability. At the center is the Bavarian Forest National Park, where the philosophy of "letting nature be nature" has led to the development of unique biodiversity with rare animals such as the lynx and the capercaillie.
The region has already won the "Fahrtziel Natur Award" from Deutsche Bahn twice (2009 and 2016), which evaluates the integration of eco-friendly mobility and sustainable tourism. In addition to the three rail connections Oberpfalzbahn, Waldbahn and Ilztalbahn, you can also use the Igel buses that travel around the national park centers Rachel-Lusen and Falkenstein. Also useful is the GUTi guest card, which you can get at your accommodation and that lets you use all transport lines in the Bavarian Forest for free!
And these efforts pay off: In the ''Destination Brand Study 2021'', the Bavarian Forest was considered the most sustainable vacationing spots by Germans among 58 regions surveyed.
Video: MeinUrlaubTV
The 700 year old tradition of glassmaking
One of the oldest crafts in the Bavarian Forest is glassmaking. As early as the 15th century, this precious and fragile commodity was already being produced in the Bavarian-Bohemian border region, as raw materials such as quartz and wood were available in abundance. Initially, itinerant glassworks were built, which were relocated as soon as the raw materials at the corresponding location were exhausted.
Glass is still produced even today in the Bavarian Forest. In factories that have opened to visitors, you can look over the shoulders of the glassmakers at their work. Along the Glasstraße vacation route, for example, which runs through both the Bavarian Forest and the Upper Palatinate Forest, there are a number of places where the 700-year-old tradition of glassmaking is alive and well. These include the Weinfurt glass village, where around 170 professionals work and live. In the glass museum in Passau, you can immerse yourself in the history of the craft and marvel at valuable pieces dating between 1650 and 1950.
