Hiking in Mitterteich

From the Fichtelgebirge to the Steinwald: Eight stages full of forests, rocks, huts and views – a varied long-distance hike all the way to Waldsassen.

Those hiking on the Franconian Mountain Trail will be captivated by the romance of Franconian landscapes, which Eichendorff already dedicated one of his most beautiful poems to. But the route also offers hiking experiences expected from summit climbs and sporting hikes.

Over almost 500 km, we hike on the Franconian Mountain Route through the Franconian Forest Nature Park, the Fichtel Mountains, Franconian Switzerland, and the Franconian Jura.

A varied route through meadows, forests, villages. Mostly the route is on open fields, so the route is especially fun in good weather.

On the ridge path we climb the highest mountain peaks of the Fichtelgebirge and see impressive rock towers. Afterwards, we hike on the Steinwaldweg through the forest of the same name in the southern Fichtelgebirge.

The Steinwaldweg (46 km) connects the Fichtelgebirge and Steinwald: It starts at the Kösseine, goes to the Steinwald plateau and via the Weißenstein ruin, the Marktredwitzer Haus, and Fuchsmühl to Waldsassen.

3-day leisurely hike through the Stiftland, the area formerly administered by the Waldsassen monastery

​ ▶ From the large parking lot in Großbüchlberg 01 at the Gasthaus Petersklause (directly next to the summer toboggan run), we march on asphalt past the inn slightly downhill, but turn right before the road (Hirschen-tanz-Stone Quarry Circular Route, marking "Orange 2"). The path rises gently again, we pass an impressive tree on the right, follow the crossing asphalt road to the right, then immediately turn left again. Initially still paved, the path continues after the last house on a slabbed way across open fields and meadows towards the forest. The slab road ends and on a gravel path we walk through the initially sparse forest slightly downhill. It becomes flatter, the forest becomes denser, we pass fitness stations, turn sharply left and follow the wide path on the right to a junction. We curve to the left and reach the next fork 02 in a right-hand bend. Straight ahead is Ochsentränk, but we keep right and follow the unmarked forest path that leads in a large right-hand bend around the Hirschentanz, past some path branches marked with "Caution blasting. Entry prohibited" signs. We pass a simple wooden cross on the left side of the path and come across a barrier on the gently descending path 03. Further downhill we reach an asphalt road, which we follow through the huge quarry complex. At the bottom, at a crossroads, we keep right ("2") and hike on a narrow gravel path into the forest. With the "2" we cross a forest path, after a right turn we encounter a crossing forest road, which we follow to the left, slightly downhill. We cross a path slightly to the right, go through a clearing and at a pond 04 into the forest. Along the forest edge on the right and along meadows we walk back into the forest. After a short forest section we walk along the forest edge in a left bend slightly uphill. At a beekeeper's stand we turn right and continue traversing uphill over scenic open meadow and farmland towards the soon visible houses of Großbüchlberg. The field path soon turns into a slab path and shortly before the houses we come to a junction and to the outbound path. On asphalt, we walk straight over a crest and downhill to a chapel 05, then keep left and go back up to the Gasthaus Petersklause and to the parking lot in Großbüchlberg 01.

As part of the Franconian Mountain Trail, the hike begins in Waldsassen at the southwest end of the square in front of the basilica. Up to the beginning of the village of Pleußen, the path leads variedly along the little river Wondreb and follows the marking "Franconian Mountain Trail". Via well-developed field paths, you return from there to the starting point of the hike – this part of the trail is not marked as a hiking path.

 On the trail of the Cistercians from the former Cistercian monastery Plasy through the forested landscape of West Bohemia and via Marienbad and the Stiftland to the Waldsassen monastery. The Way of the Cistercians is not marked with its own sign. It runs in the Czech Republic on the hiking trails of the Czech Tourist Club (KCT) and in Germany on existing (long-distance) hiking trails.