Zwiesel: Glass Art and Sculpture Trail

Discover Zwiesel by your interests

Zwiesel combines glass art, local history and hiking opportunities. If you’re looking for a hotel in Zwiesel, you can plan your stay around the things that interest you: an art walk, the history of the underground passageways or hiking. The following sights and activities offer different ways to shape your plans.

Sculpture Trail and Glass Pyramid

More than 40 works by local artists enrich the Zwiesel Sculpture Trail. The number may change as works are added or removed. Most of the artworks are in the town centre; you can explore the trail on foot in separate sections. By contrast, Zwiesel’s well-marked hiking trail network covers more than 150 kilometres; the stated length may change over time. Art in the townscape and hiking trails therefore offer different points of reference for planning your day.

At the Zwiesel Glass Pyramid, glass meets a distinctive stacking method. It is made up of 93,665 machine-blown Tritan crystal glasses from the “Neckar” wine glass series. The glasses were stacked loosely, without adhesive, in 65 tiers. The material, manufacturing method and construction are all defining features of this structure.

History and Events

In times of danger and hardship, Zwiesel’s network of passageways served as a means of survival. Escape routes, hiding places and storage rooms were among its functions at the time. Tours of the underground passageways are available only with a confirmed booking through the tourist information office. If you plan to take part in one, be sure to meet this requirement in advance.

A recurring event on the calendar is Zwiesel Glass Night, held annually in mid-August. In the town centre, there are glassmaking demonstrations, exhibition spaces and stalls devoted to glass. Dates and programmes may vary; if you’re travelling specifically for the event, check the exact date in advance.

Nearby, the Stormberger Museum is located in the village hall on the village square in the mountain village of Rabenstein, 4 km from Zwiesel. Its location in Rabenstein offers another cultural point of interest in addition to the attractions in Zwiesel.

More to explore in the wider destination of Regen

The wider destination of Regen has its own attractions, too. Regen’s beer and ice cellars are regularly featured in public tours as the historic “Underground Regen,” which explain their history. This is distinct from Zwiesel’s network of passageways: in Regen, the focus is on the history of the cellars, while Zwiesel’s passageways provided escape routes, hiding places and storage rooms in times of hardship.

There are 13 terrain therapy trails in and around the town of Regen. The Grubhügel cross-country ski trail can be used for both skating and classic techniques. Another option is the Beer Experience Hike: it covers about 5 km, with almost half the route running directly alongside the Regen River. The landscape around Weißenstein has its own distinctive features, too. The quartz rocks near Weißenstein Castle ruins have been protected since 1940 because of their geological importance. The Pfahl at Weißenstein is an important habitat for rare heat- and drought-loving animal and plant species adapted to nutrient-poor sites.

Discover more destinations: Rabenstein, Regen, Kollnburg, Patersdorf, Arnbruck, Lindberg, Bodenmais, Geiersthal

Back to the main travel overview: Regen.