Ginselsried: Trails and Building Heritage

When planning a trip to Ginselsried, routes and building heritage are two tangible points of interest: a 3.1 km circular walk leads through the village, and a listed historic farmhouse is located at Ginselsried 43. Other trails and the history of local architecture give these topics more concrete detail.

Routes and Trails

The circular walk shown on the 2025 Rusel hiking map is 3.1 km long. It runs from Bischofsmais via the Schochertkapelle and Ginselsried, then back to Bischofsmais. The map also shows a 7.6 km route from Bischofsmais via Ginselsried, Hochdorf, the Langbruckmühle and Großseiboldsried to Weißenstein. The stated route lengths differ by 4.5 km; their courses and endpoints also differ: the shorter route returns to Bischofsmais, while the longer one continues to Weißenstein.

Tour No. 3, “Bischofsmais – Dösingerried – Hochdorf Loop,” runs from Hochdorf via Ginselsried and then partly along roads back to its starting point at Bischofsmais Town Hall. Along the way, it follows forest roads through shady woods and passes the Todtenau raised bog and the Kaesermühle. The tour description thus combines named landscape features with details about the route.

For Tour No. 4, “Bischofsmais – Weißenstein Loop,” one section from Hochdorf is described: the trail climbs for a while along a farm track towards Ginselsried and Bischofsmais. Together with the circular walk and Tour No. 3, it offers different points of reference when choosing a route: a clearly specified return to Bischofsmais, a longer trail to Weißenstein, and a section heading towards Ginselsried.

Historic Farmhouse and Local History

A listed historic farmhouse belonging to a quadrangle farm is located at Ginselsried 43. The two-storey building has a shallow-pitched gable roof and timber-block construction, with shingle cladding on two sides. It probably dates from the first third of the 19th century. The terms describe different features of the house: “shallow-pitched gable roof” refers to the roof shape, “timber-block construction” to the building method, and the shingle cladding to the exterior finish on two sides.

The settlement history also places Ginselsried in a broader context. The village is one of the nearby settlements ending in -ried and -mais that were founded at around the same time. This approximate dating sits alongside the specific architectural features of the farmhouse: one concerns the shared period in which a group of villages was founded, while the other concerns the roof shape, construction method and exterior finish of a single building.

More Local Information

Ginselsried has a playground. Barbara Hintermair at Ginselsried 7 offers elderberry products and turned wood items. Check whether these products are currently available before visiting.

More to Explore in the Wider Destination of Bischofsmais

The wider destination of Bischofsmais offers numerous hikes through the natural surroundings of the Bavarian Forest Nature Park. The Devil’s Table (Teufelstisch) can be reached via hiking trail No. 3; from there, you can see Weißenstein Castle ruins and the district town of Regen. These hiking attractions are part of Bischofsmais and should be distinguished from the specific routes described through Ginselsried.

Bischofsmais spa park includes a viewing and tobogganing hill. At its summit lies a 35-tonne balancing rock. Two rooms in the Bischofsmais Baderhaus are dedicated to local writer Max Peinkofer and his brother-in-law, Augsburg Bishop Dr. Joseph Freundorfer. A permanent nativity scene exhibition is located on the ground floor. The building also hosts events featuring music, readings, and art and photography exhibitions. Check the current flyer for specific event dates.

Wolfauslassen is still part of village tradition in Bischofsmais. On the day before St. Martin’s Day (11 November), the wolf makes its way through the village, making a great deal of noise together with the Goaßlschnalzer whip crackers. For a winter trip, Bischofsmais offers another seasonal attraction: in winter, nine downhill runs at the 1,097-metre-high Geißkopf and nearby 1,121-metre-high Einödriegel are open for skiing and snowboarding. Check the current opening dates with the ski operator.

Discover more destinations: Habischried

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