Fichtelgebirge: Peaks, Granite and Lake Fichtel

You can explore the Fichtelgebirge through its peaks and river sources: At 1,053 metres, Schneeberg is the highest mountain in Franconia. Ochsenkopf reaches 1,024 metres and is the second-highest mountain in the Fichtelgebirge. The Main, Eger, Naab and Saale, the region’s four best-known rivers, also have their sources here. This offers different ways to plan your trip, with a focus on altitude, nature trails, water or places to visit.

Granite, peaks and Lake Fichtel

The Fichtelgebirge is shaped primarily by granite. Other types of rock found here include gneiss, basalt, phyllite slate, marble, quartz, proterobas and soapstone. This variety of rock is as much a part of the landscape’s character as its distinctive mountains and the rivers that rise here.

At Lake Fichtel, recreation and nature conservation take place in separate areas: The southern part is a local recreation area with bathing spots and an inn. In 1939, the northern and eastern parts were designated a nature reserve covering 45.4 hectares; in 1982, it was expanded to 139.2 hectares as the “Fichtelseemoor Nature Forest Reserve”. If you plan to visit the bathing spots or the inn, check the latest information about the facilities before your visit.

Hiking and cycling trails

For planning your outings, the Fichtelgebirge Tourism Centre’s tour portal currently offers more than 260 hiking tours. You will find an interactive map as well as printable PDFs and GPS data for smartphones. Depending on your preferred format, you can use the map to find your way, print out a tour or use GPS data.

The routes offer a range of experiences. The “Fränkischer Gebirgsweg” quality hiking trail runs through the Fichtelgebirge’s natural landscape and outdoor recreation areas. At Epprechtstein, the quarry trail links numerous granite quarries on the slopes and starts at the Granite Labyrinth. For cyclists, the Bavaria-Bohemia Bridge Cycle Route is one of the routes through this natural landscape and outdoor recreation area. Hiking and cycling are therefore options for your stay in their own right, alongside specific destinations at the peaks and the lake.

Attractions on the mountain and in the wildlife park

At the top of Ochsenkopf stands the Asenturm, built in 1922/23 and home to the highest-altitude inn in the Fichtelgebirge. Check whether the inn is currently open before your visit. The ruins of Epprechtstein Castle lie at the summit of Epprechtstein and are a popular destination offering expansive views. The ruins and the tower thus offer different reasons to include the heights of the Fichtelgebirge in your travel plans.

Another option is the wildlife park at Waldhaus Mehlmeisel. A circular trail leads through native wildlife; a three-metre-high elevated walkway runs above the lynx and wild boar enclosures. Animal populations and visitor rules may change. Checking the latest information before your visit will help you include this destination in your plans.

Regional orientation and hotel location

The Fichtelgebirge Nature Park stretches between the centres of Bayreuth, Hof and Weiden, and the Czech city of Cheb (Eger), covering more than 1,000 square kilometres. This regional expanse provides a helpful framework for choosing which experiences you want your trip to focus on.

When looking for a hotel in the Fichtelgebirge, you can start by deciding on your priorities: hiking, cycling, a visit to Lake Fichtel or attractions such as the Asenturm, the castle ruins and the wildlife park. Then compare the location of your planned accommodation with the places you actually want to visit. This way, your choice is guided by your travel plans rather than assuming that one location suits every stay.

Discover more destinations: Weilheim-Schongau, Bad Kissingen, Haßberge, Tirschenreuth, Neumarkt In Der Oberpfalz, Lindau, Dachau, Nürnberger Land.

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