Discover Schönberg

Schönberg offers a protected historic center with distinctive architecture, as well as leisure activities that each have their own clear focus: an adventure pool, an observation tower and a fitness trail. This mix can help you choose a destination when looking for a hotel in Schönberg. You can also consider the wider Freyung-Grafenau region, whose natural landscapes and cultural attractions give your stay its own regional setting.

Historic Center and Building History

The protected Schönberg Historic Center ensemble includes the market square and church square, along with the surrounding buildings. Colorful houses in the Inn-Salzach style line both sides of the roundabout in the market square. This brings together the historic center’s protected status and a specific architectural style.

The Catholic parish church of St. Margaretha stands at Kirchplatz 1. After a fire, it was rebuilt between 1836 and 1838 by Karl von Montigny as a Neo-Gothic hall church with stepped rooflines. The details combine a clearly dated building history with two distinct architectural features: Neo-Gothic describes the style, while the hall church describes the building type.

Adventure Pool, Views and Exercise

The solar-heated Schönberg adventure pool has an 84-meter-long waterslide, an adventure pool and a children’s pool. The observation tower on Kadernberg is 30 meters high and was inaugurated in 1975; 120 steps lead to the covered viewing platform. At fitalPARC Schönberg, by contrast, the focus is on exercise: the fitness trail is equipped with stations for training coordination and strength. The water activities, views and exercise each offer a distinct focus.

The small Reinsberger Park is nearby, on a hill south of Schönberg. Its features include a pavilion, a fountain and a playground. As a recreational park, it differs from the leisure facilities in town.

Freyung-Grafenau as a Wider Travel Destination

Freyung-Grafenau lies in the tri-border area of Bavaria, Bohemia and Austria. The Bavarian Forest National Park extends into Freyung-Grafenau district within this wider region; it opened on October 7, 1970, as Germany’s first national park. The 2024 zoning map designates 75.37 percent of its area as natural zones.

In the Buchberger Leite gorge, steep rock ridges squeeze the boulder-strewn, cascade-rich Wolfsteiner Ohe into a deep, narrow channel. Remnants of primeval forest survive in the moss- and fern-rich gorge woodlands. An eight-kilometer themed hiking trail, with information boards and an accompanying brochure, runs through the gorge between Freyung and Ringelai. Historic log-driving walls, tunnels carved into the rock and surface canals bear witness to centuries of human activity there.

Near Neuschönau, the treetop walkway is part of the Lusen National Park Center. At the wildlife enclosure near Neuschönau, visitors can learn about the national park and its native wildlife. The circular trails are suitable for young children who are not yet able to cover long distances.

In Freyung stands the Schramlhaus, built around 1700. It is now the oldest farmhouse in the town and, in terms of its original character, one of the oldest in Freyung-Grafenau district. The Wolfstein Local History Museum is housed there. The house also contains more than a hundred original, preserved examples of reverse glass painting, a form of folk religious art.

The Gabreta Archaeological Adventure Park features buildings reconstructed from original Celtic structures, symbolically representing Celtic artifacts found on the hill of Paul Freund. Activities for visitors include bread-making; guided tours about Celtic life are also available with knowledgeable guides. As program details may change, check the latest information about these activities before your visit.

Discover more destinations: Röhrnbach, Neuschönau, Grainet, Waldkirchen, Zenting, Neureichenau, Schöfweg, Haidmühle

View the wider travel guide: Freyung-Grafenau.