Schirmitz: Church, Panorama and Local History

Schirmitz brings together local history and scenic views, appealing to two different travel interests. In the southeastern part of the municipality, on the road to Bechtsrieth, a rise offers panoramic views across the entire Weiden Bay. In town, St. James’s Church, the cemetery with its simple wooden crosses and the History Fountain by the town hall each make a distinct impression. If you are looking for a hotel in Schirmitz, consider whether your stay will focus mainly on the town itself or also include destinations across the wider travel region.

Church Architecture at St. James’s

St. James’s is a choir-tower church: its tower stands directly above the sanctuary, which adjoins a single-nave church hall. The term describes the spatial arrangement of the choir, tower and nave—a distinctive architectural feature of the church.

St. James’s is decorated in the Gründerzeit style, now very rare in Bavaria. The three altars and the pulpit date from around 1754. This brings together a rare stylistic characterisation and specific historical furnishings in the same church. Those interested in church architecture can find both an unusual floor plan and clearly identifiable details of its furnishings here.

Wooden Crosses and Local History

Schirmitz cemetery is known for its simple wooden crosses, which are considered unique in Bavaria. By the town hall, the History Fountain tells the story of the town. The crosses and the fountain make different impressions: one centres on a simple form, the other on local history. Together, they offer two specific ways to explore Schirmitz, without requiring a long list of attractions.

Panoramic Views and Trail Length

The rise in the southeastern part of the municipality offers views across the entire Weiden Bay. The Panorama Trail lies nearby, east of Schirmitz. It is 4.3 kilometres long and has 103 metres of elevation gain. These figures give you two concrete reference points for planning your hike; they describe different aspects of the trail and do not amount to a general rating of its difficulty.

Excursions in the Wider Travel Region of Neustadt an der Waldnaab

In the wider travel region of Neustadt an der Waldnaab, the district lies in the Upper Palatinate Forest. Activities on offer there include hiking, cycling, museum visits and swimming in numerous bathing waters. One example of a longer cycling tour is the Bockl: this 52-kilometre route runs from Neustadt an der Waldnaab to Eslarn along a historic railway line and can be travelled on foot, by bicycle or on inline skates.

The Bockl is mostly asphalted and traffic-free; gradients along the route rarely exceed 3 percent. At 52 kilometres, it is a considerably longer regional route than the 4.3-kilometre Panorama Trail near Schirmitz. The Bockl’s starting point in Neustadt an der Waldnaab is directly accessible by train. Trains run hourly to the terminus of the Nuremberg–Neustadt an der Waldnaab line; from there, you can transfer directly to a bicycle. Check the timetable before travelling.

Another destination in the wider travel region is Parkstein. The historic walking tour begins at Landrichter Castle, home to the Parkstein Volcano Experience Museum. A volcanic eruption is staged there every hour and can be experienced across three levels. As times may change, check the latest information before travelling.

When choosing a hotel, you can first consider whether you want to focus on Schirmitz itself or also plan longer excursions in the wider travel region.

Discover More Destinations

Discover more destinations: Pirk, Grafenwöhr, Parkstein, Flossenbürg, Kirchenthumbach, Waldthurn, Weiherhammer, Weiden in der Oberpfalz.

Back to the regional travel overview: Neustadt an der Waldnaab.