Adventures on Foot in Fränkische Schweiz

Town Walks, Countryside Hikes, and Rock Climbing in Franconian Switzerland

The lovely nature of the Fränkische Schweiz (Franconian Switzerland) in Bavaria, Germany offers ample opportunities for countryside hikes and rock climbing.

Town Walks

From April to October, the tourist office in Forchheim conducts guided town walks. On Wednesday at 3 pm and Saturday at 10:30 am, 90-minute tours of the old town are offered. On the first Sunday of the month at 2 pm, special two-hour tours provide an interesting view into the defenses of medieval towns.

Countryside Hikes

The Fränkische Schweiz has around 4,000 km/2,500 miles of marked hiking trails. The routes are usually circular or end at public transportation stops.

Any tourism office can provide details on hiking routes in the region.

A popular long-distance route is the Leo-Jobst-Weg – a 75-km/47-mile route from Pegnitz to Forchheim. This route runs mostly in valleys and is therefore relatively easy. Hiking distances are:

From Pegnitz

to Pottenstein (14 km/9 miles),
to Behrungsmühle (14 km/9 miles),
to Muggendorf (9 km/5.5 miles),
to Ebermannstadt (8 km/5 miles), and
to Forchheim (19 km/12 miles).

A very popular 6-km/3.7-mile hike, requiring around two hours, is the Promenadenweg. Start and finish is the parking lot at Burg Rabenstein. The trail is 95% in the forest and the shade makes it suitable for hiking even in high summer.

An 11-km/6.8-mile circular route leads from Streitberg via the Bingenhöhle, Streitburg, Muggendorg, and Burg Neideck before returning to Streitberg.

Wandern Ohne Gepäck (Hiking without Luggage) is popular and possible for hikes of longer than four days. Arrangements are made by the Tourismuszentrale Fränkische Schweiz.

Rock Climbing

The Fränkische Scweiz is a wonderland for rock climbers. It has around 8,000 possible climbing routes and the area is known for its safe, solid rock faces. The Trubachtal and side valleys are particularly popular but rock towers are available throughout the region.

Companies that have courses and equipment include ProAlpin, Bergsportschule, Untere Sandstraße 30, 96049 Bamberg, tel 0951-186-9521; Kletterschule Frankenjura, Schossaritz 2, 91355 Hiltpoltstein, tel 09245-1259; and Aktiv Reisen, Forchheimer Straße 14, 91346 Muggendorf/Wiesenttal, tel 09196-998566.

An indoor climbing wall is available at Kletter- und Seil-Erlebnispark Magnesia, Wisent Center, Bayreuther Straße 108, Forchheim, tel 09191-616594. Opening hours are weekdays from 2 to 11 pm and weekends from 10 am to 10 pm.

Summer Tobogganing

Outside Pottenstein, near the Teufelshöhle, is Rodelmekka-Pottenstein, tel 09243-92200, a summer tobogganing park. The summer bob at 1.2 km/.75 mile is one of the longest in Europe. Opening hours are daily from 10 am to 5 pm. It is €2 per ride or €9 for 6.

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02/23/2008