Wildenau: Hiking, Cycling and Architectural History

Wildenau combines two different trail themes with architectural history: the Ostweg is for hiking, while the Perlenroute is for cycling. There is also an information board about German-Czech border history and historic residential farmhouses. This lets you choose whether to focus your stay on tours or local history.

Hiking, Cycling and Border History

The Ostweg passes through Wildenau on a hiking route close to the border. It connects the tripoint of Bavaria, Bohemia and Saxony with the Eger and Rösla valleys, as well as Hohenberg an der Eger, Schirnding and the monastery town of Waldsassen. The route is therefore a central feature, with described connections spanning several places and landscapes.

The Perlenroute offers a different focus. It is continuously rideable and signposted from Oberkotzau via Rehau, Schönwald and Selb-Plößberg to Asch. The public field and forest roads on the Perlenroute from Plößberg to Wildenau have been paved for year-round use. When choosing a route, both its continuous course and signposting, and the paved section between Plößberg and Wildenau, are useful points of reference.

The history of the border region is also represented along the Perlenroute: one of its nine information boards stands in Wildenau. It presents the history of the shared German-Czech border region in two languages. Those interested in regional history as well as the route itself will find a distinct point of interest here.

Historic Residential Farmhouses in Wildenau

The historic buildings differ in their construction dates, number of storeys and surviving features. Wildenau 1a is a former residential farmhouse, a single-storey building with a gabled roof dating from the late 17th or early 18th century. Only the stable section of the building remains. This distinguishes it from the two other residential farmhouses described here.

Wildenau 13 is a single-storey building with a gabled roof and a half-timbered gable, dating from the first half of the 19th century. Wildenau 19, by contrast, dates from the first half of the 18th century and has two storeys. Its upper floor is built of boarded half-timbering; this house also has a gabled roof. Together, the three addresses offer different ways to explore architectural history: the surviving stable section, the half-timbered gable and the boarded half-timbering on the upper floor. The buildings date from the late 17th or early 18th century through to the first half of the 19th century.

For your trip planning, this offers a choice between several interests: hiking the Ostweg, cycling the signposted Perlenroute or exploring historic architectural styles. The information board complements the trail themes with the history of the German-Czech border region.

Culture in the Wider Destination of Selb

In the wider destination of Selb, the Porzellanikon offers a dedicated focus on industrial and porcelain history. It is located in a former Rosenthal factory that closed in 1969. Today, the repurposed industrial site covers around 9,000 square metres and houses three museums: the European Museum for the Porcelain Industry, the Rosenthal Museum and the European Museum for Technical Ceramics.

The Porzellanikon Selb displays old machinery, interactive exhibits, Rosenthal tableware, technical ceramics and a steam engine across more than 8,000 square metres. Six of the ten impressive round kilns have been completely preserved and are accessible to visitors. These examples bring to life the transformation of the former factory site into a museum.

Another way to explore Selb is on a walking tour of the city. It focuses on the art, culture, old, new and distinctive features of this porcelain and design city, and can be started in person or virtually. The Rosenthal Theatre is located in the heart of Selb, on the slope of the Selbbach valley. Its programme includes operas, operettas, musicals, plays, symphony concerts, chamber concerts, jazz concerts and cabaret events; for specific performances, it is worth checking the current schedule.

Discover more destinations: Selb-Plößberg

Go to the overview of the wider destination: Selb.