Straubing-Bogen: Pilgrimage, Trails and Discoveries

At Bogenberg, a vibrant Marian pilgrimage tradition, museum exhibits and sweeping views come together; elsewhere in the Straubing-Bogen holiday region, trails lead alongside ponds or high above the treetops. This lets you tailor your trip to your interests, whether culture, outdoor activities or observing nature. If you are planning a hotel stay, the experiences you want to visit can determine the focus of your trip.

Bogenberg: Pilgrimage and Bavarian lozenges

Bogenberg is one of Bavaria’s oldest Marian pilgrimage sites that is still active today. The annual Holzkirchen Candle Pilgrimage takes place at the pilgrimage church at Pentecost. The Bogenberg District Museum explores the site’s history and traditions: it covers the Bavarian lozenges, from the Counts of Windberg-Bogen and their use by the Wittelsbachs and in the Bavarian state coat of arms, to their role as a symbol of Bavaria. The museum also presents Bogenberg as Lower Bavaria’s Holy Mountain and as the site of one of Bavaria’s oldest Marian pilgrimages.

For groups of ten or more and school classes, individually designed guided tours of the museum about Bogenberg are available. They can also be booked outside opening hours with advance notice by phone or in writing. If you are planning a group visit, the tour can be tailored to your group in advance.

Windberg: Monastic ensemble and panoramic views

Windberg combines local history with a striking setting: the medieval village lies on a scenic hill at an elevation of 420 metres and offers panoramic views of the mountains of the Bavarian Forest, the Bogenbach valley and the Danube Plain. The medieval monastic ensemble is largely preserved. It includes the basilica, the prelature, the former court house and the artisans’ house. Together, these buildings give the village a strong cultural and historical character, while the hill opens up views across a variety of landscapes.

Nature trails in Wiesenfelden

In Wiesenfelden, two trails differ both in length and in the features along the way. The accessible circular trail around Beckenweiher Pond is 2.3 kilometres long and suitable for strollers and wheelchairs. Five information points with benches and information panels cover the local flora and fauna, the pond’s protection status and its history. A 110-metre nature observation boardwalk is also part of the circular trail. The shorter of the two routes thus combines nature watching with information about this body of water.

The Kobelberg nature trail is around 4.5 kilometres long and has nine stations. It is suitable for strollers and is cleared of snow in winter. Comparing the stated distances, this is the longer option; at Beckenweiher Pond, by contrast, the focus is on the information points and observation boardwalk. When planning your day, you can therefore choose between a shorter loop with several themed stations and a longer nature trail.

Cycling, walking and hands-on discoveries

Bogen has three day trips for families with children: the Culture Tour, the Beer Garden Tour and the “Left and Right of the Danube” Tour. The European pilgrimage trail VIA NOVA offers another way to explore the area on foot. The signposted hiking trail passes through Bogen and extends for around 300 kilometres in total. At the Europapark Bayern-Böhmen in Bogen, the bee educational trail shares facts about honeybees through information panels and a real bee colony.

Those who prefer learning about science through hands-on activities will find more than 100 experiment stations on natural phenomena and the natural sciences at the Bayerwald Xperium. The activities offer different kinds of experiences: cycling and pilgrimage trails lead outdoors, while the educational trail and experiment stations offer different ways to learn about nature.

Treetop walkway and toboggan run near Sankt Englmar

The WaldWipfelWeg in Maibrunn near Sankt Englmar is an accessible walking trail above the treetops, reaching heights of up to 30 metres. The Nature Experience Trail features numerous interactive stations and climbing opportunities, as well as animals such as alpacas, llamas, sheep and kangaroos. A special feature of the WaldWipfelWeg is the “Upside-Down House,” unique in Bavaria: it stands entirely on its roof, and everything inside is topsy-turvy.

The St. Englmar toboggan run also offers two distinct rides: the Bayerwald-Bob and Bayerwald-Coaster are each 1,000 metres long and can be used in all weather conditions. Express bus route 58 runs hourly to the WaldWipfelWeg from the Viechtach and Bogen railway stations. If you plan to use this service, check the current timetable before travelling.

Landscape and trip planning

The Straubing-Bogen holiday region is shaped by the Bavarian Forest, the fertile Gäuboden plain and the Danube. The Labertal Cycle Path also crosses the Gäuboden in the Straubing-Bogen district, following flat cycle paths and quiet side roads; conditions may vary locally. The varied landscapes and activities offer different starting points for a trip.

Discover more destinations: Haibach, Konzell, Rattenberg, Straubing, Wiesenfelden, Sankt Englmar, Mitterfels, Ascha, Geiselhöring, Schwarzach, Rattiszell, Hunderdorf, Neukirchen, Stallwang, Bogen, Windberg, Aiterhofen, Kirchroth, Steinach, Perasdorf, Salching, Haselbach, Atting.

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