Holidays in the Bavarian Forest - the largest forest protection area in Central Europe

Adventure and culture under the green roof of Europe

The Bavarian Forest lies on the border between Bavaria and the Czech Republic and, with a length of around 100 kilometers, is geologically and geomorphologically part of the Bohemian Forest, but has had its own name since around 1830. With its altitude of 300 to over 1400 m, the forest offers a wide range of landscapes and climates. It is quite possible to find a few meters of snow at higher altitudes, while several small wine-growing areas can be found on the southern slopes of the towns of Tegernheim, Donaustauf, Wörth and Wiesent in the east of Regensburg. Due to the special location between Central European and continental climate, the weather here can sometimes be very changeable.

Treetop path at the Lusen National Park Center near Neuschönau
Quarry near Büchlberg
Celtic village of Gabreta - experience the past in the Bavarian Forest
Pullman City - Experience the Wild West atmosphere in the Bavarian Forest

The first of its kind

In 1970 the Bavarian Forest National Park was established along the Czech border. It was the first national park to be founded in Germany and, with its around 25,000 hectares, is considered to be the largest contiguous forest protection area in Central Europe together with the neighboring Sumava National Park in the Bohemian Forest. These two forests are also known as the "green roof of Europe".

geographic data

Location:

Bayern, Germany

On the border between (Bavaria) Germany and the Czech Republic
Coordinates:

♁48° 56′ N, 13° 6′ O
Typ:

Mittelgebirge
Highest mountain:

Großer Arber (Big Arber)

(1456 m above sea level NHN)
Area:

242,5 km²
Rock:

gneiss, granite

Wetteronline Bodenmais

Wetteronline Zwiesel

In the footsteps of old traders

The three-river city of Passau is located in the "southern Bavarian Forest" region. With almost 53,000 inhabitants, it is the largest city in the Bavarian Forest. The Danube, Inn and Ilz flow together here, which made the town an important stop on the trade route between Bohemia and the Danube in the Middle Ages. At that time, the so-called golden path had to be used to traverse the Bohemian Forest and the Bavarian Forest on foot and with beasts of burden in order to bring goods to the Danube and thus into the world. Today you can follow in the footsteps of these so-called mules and their mules. Here you can explore a wide variety of climbs that have been converted into hiking trails. Between Grafenau and Waldhäuser, for example, you can hike along the "Gulden Strasse", i.e. the golden path.

HOLIDAY IN THE Bavarian Forest

Summit fun and handicrafts in the Bavarian Forest

Thanks to its exceptional geology and location, the "Bavarian Forest" nature park and its surroundings offer a wide range of leisure activities and experiences.
With its picturesque mountains such as the Großer Arber or the Lusen and the high density of hiking trails, the region is ideal for hikers and nature lovers. There is a large selection of tours in all levels of difficulty from hikers newbies to mountain professionals.
And in Winter you can also ski wonderfully here. The most popular ski areas in the "Bavarian Forest" region include the Proeller, the Geißkopf and the Arber.
Visits to the many idyllic farms that can be found throughout the region and many of which are happy to open their doors to interested visitors are very popular with families, especially when on vacation in the Bavarian Forest.
Also worth a visit are the traditional glassworks that can be found in the "Bavarian Forest" region. Here you can get an insight into the old art of glassblowing. You can learn a lot about their history and watch the master glassblowers at work. In some huts you can even try your hand at glassblowing.

Top sights for your holiday in the Bavarian Forest

other sights in the Bavarian Forest

The most beautiful cities in the Bavarian Forest

Bogen

Visit the Bogenberg pilgrimage church, Oberalteich monastery or the medieval town square with town houses from the 17th to 19th centuries.

Cham

In the central business location of the region, the famous beer gate is the city's best-known attraction.

Deggendorf

The gateway to the Bavarian Forest and its science center.

Freyung

The Bergglashütte Weinfurtner, the Heimatmuseum Winterberg and the wild and romantic gorge and stream gorge "Buchberger Leite" are worth a visit.

Furth im Wald

Visit Further Felsengange or Flederwisch World of Adventure. Take your children on a trip to the Steibruchsee Wildlife Park or to the Dragon Cave.

Grafenau

Highlights include the old town hall and old city wall, the Luitpold fountain, the town square complex, the hospital church and the Bärnstein castle chapel.

Hauzenberg

Popular with visitors are the nearby hiking areas, the Freudensee lake, the graphite mine, as well as the stone worlds and the Rocco park.

Passau

The old town of the "City of Three Rivers" is famous for its Baroque buildings and St. Szczepan and is worth visiting at any time of the year.

Regen

The "Fressende Haus" with its "Glass Forest" and the local history museum Berg Reichenstein are worth seeing.

Straubing

Visit magnificent churches and monuments, as well as the only zoo in eastern Bavaria.

Viechtach

The glass barn, the Crystal Museum, the Viechtach Museum and the nearby Neunußberg Castle are popular with visitors.

Waldkirchen

Characteristic of the historic city walls, Waldkirchen has many museums to offer. The Karoli Badepark is also popular, as is the bathing lake and ice rink in Winter.

List of mountains in the Bavarian Forest (including elevations)

Almberg (1142 m)
Alzenberg (1100 m)
Arber, Großer (1456 m)
Arber, Kleiner (1384 m)
Aschenstein (945 m)
Bernhardsnagel (896 m)
Bistand (865 m)
Büchelstein (831 m)
Breitenauriegel (1116 m)
Brotjacklriegel (1016 m)
Burgstall (976 m)
Dreisesselberg (1333 m)
Dreitannenriegel (1090,2 m)
Eckstein (1073 m), siehe Hoher Bogen
Eschenberg (1043 m)
Einödriegel (1120,6 m)
Enzian (1285 m)
Falkenstein, Großer (1315 m)
Falkenstein, Kleiner (1190 m)
Farrenberg (1203 m)
Friedrichsberg (934 m)
Fürberg (880 m)
Gallner (709 m)
Geißkopf (1097,4 m)
Geißlstein (920 m)
Geißriegel (1046 m)
Grandelberg (1010 m)
Gsengetstein (952 m)
Guntherstein (ca. 700 m)
Hadriwa (922 m)
Hahnenbogen (1257 m)
Hahnenriegel (1108 m)
Haibühler Spitz (1047 m)
Haidel (1165,6 m)
Haidstein (742 m)
Harlachberger Spitz (913 m)
Hausstein (917 m)
Hennenkobel (965 m)
Hessenstein (878 m)
Heugstatt (1261 m)
Hindenburgkanzel (1049 m)
Hirschberg (1039 m)
Hirschenstein (1095 m)
Hochberg (Sankt Englmar) (1025 m)
Hochberg (Bayerisch Eisenstein) (943 m)
Hochstein (Arbermassiv) (1132 m)
Hochzellberg (1208 m)
Hoher Bogen (1079 m)
Hoher Filzberg (1279 m)
Hoher Stein (1042 m), siehe Kaitersberg
Hohlstein (1196 m)
Hörndl (1015 m)
Kaitersberg (1133 m)
Kanzel (1011 m)
Käsplatte (979 m)
Kiesruck (1265 m)
Klausenstein (1048 m)
Knogl (1056 m)
Kreuzfelsen (998,5 m)
Kronberg (984 m)
Lackenberg (1337 m)
Lichtenberg (1030 m)
Lusen (1373 m)
Mittagsplatzl (1340 m)
Mittagstein (1034 m)
Mühlriegel (1080 m)
Oberfrauenwald (947 m)
Ödriegel (1156 m)
Osser, Großer (1293 m)
Osser, Kleiner (1266 m)
Plattenhausenriegel (1376 m)
Bayerischer Plöckenstein (1365 m)
Predigtstuhl (1024 m)
Pröller (1048 m)
Rachel, Großer (1453 m)
Rachel, Kleiner (1399 m)
Rauher Kulm (1050 m)
Riedelstein, Großer (1132,9 m)
Riedelstein, Kleiner (1042 m)
Riesberg (Bayerischer Wald, Lindberg) (934 m)
Riesberg (Bayerischer Wald, Viechtach) (882 m)
Riesberg (Bayerischer Wald, Rattiszell) (602 m)
Rollmannsberg (1042 m)
Rote Höhe (1050 m)
Ruhmannsberg (863 m)
Rukowitzberg (1269 m)
Rusel (856 m)
Schwarzeck (1238 m)
Schwarzkopf (1060 m)
Schwarzriegel (1079 m), siehe Hoher Bogen
Scheuereckberg (1196 m)
Siebensteinkopf (1263 m)
Silberberg (955 m)
Staffelberg (793 m)
Steinberg (830 m)
Steinbühler Gesenke (1044 m), siehe Kaitersberg
Steinfleckberg (1341 m)
Sternknöckel (818 m)
Sulzberg (1146 m)
Sulzriegel (1261 m)
Teufelstisch (901 m)
Vogelsang (1022 m)
Wagensonnriegel (959 m)
Wagnerspitze (1125 m)
Waldhäuserriegel (1151 m)
Weigelsberg (898 m)
Wolfgangriegel (876 m)
Zwercheck (1333 m)

Bavarian Forest