Stage 2: Tirschenreuth – Plößberg

Starting point: Fischhof Tirschenreuth

Distance: 17.9 km

Walking time: 5.5 h

Ascent: 372 m

Descent: 282 m

Stage destination: Plößberg Market Square

Waymarking: Local hiking trails/Maria-Kulmer-Weg

(Note: In some places, the pilgrimage route deviates from the marked hiking/long-distance trails in order to include points of interest for pilgrims. See route description)

Route description:

The day’s stage begins at the Tirschenreuth Fischhof. The pilgrimage route goes through the courtyard gate on the north side of the Fischhof and then follows the Stadtteich circular path to the right. East of the Fischhof, a junction leads south in an arc to the street Am Fischhof. Walk a short distance to the left (east) on the road until it turns north at a right angle. In the curve, pass the motorhome site to the south and continue straight ahead on the footpath to the Mühlbach stream (marking: Oberpfälzerwaldverein; red ring on white – Tirschenreuth – Griesbach and white bar on red – Tirschenreuth – Hermannsreuth). The path follows the bend of the Mühlbach to the entrance of Lohnsitz, crosses the stream there and then continues – passing south of the village pond on the green – in an arc on the local road further southeast to the end of the village. There, the hiking trail to Griesbach branches off to the left. Continue south on the path to Hermannsreuth along the Mühlbach until it meets the Main-Mies-Weg perpendicularly at the northwestern end of the Sauere Teich. The Sauere Teich had dried up at the beginning of the 19th century and was renatured as a wetland biotope in 2010. Follow the Main-Mies-Weg to the right (west). It first crosses the Mühlbach and then the Waldnaab. Immediately after the bridge over the Waldnaab, a field path branches off at an acute angle to the south and leads to Bärnauer Straße. The marked hiking trail (Main-Mies-Weg/Maria-Kulmer-Weg) makes a large and unattractive detour via the main road at this point. At Bärnauer Straße, the field path meets the Maria-Kulmer-Weg. Walk about 775 m to the left (east) on the farm track parallel to Bärnauer Straße, cross the road at a wayside shrine with a ball-crowned lantern (Stiftlandsäule) and continue through Lodermühl on the Maria-Kulmer-Weg. The pilgrimage route continues to follow the Maria-Kulmer-Weg. It initially leads along the Waldnaab, then turns south, goes over the dam at the northern end of the Rattenteich and then continues south through the forest. At the edge of the forest, it turns west and meets the track of the old Tirschenreuth-Bärnau branch line (Vizinalbahn cycle path) after approx. 170 m. Continue left on the Maria-Kulmer-Weg to the south until the next road junction. The site of the Liebenstein cardboard factory extends to the west. At the junction, turn right towards Liebenstein. The Maria-Kulmer-Weg continues along the main road to the TIR 5 district road and then left along the district road through Liebenstein to Kronaweg. It is more interesting to turn left shortly before the end of the cardboard factory and take the footpath to the ruins of Liebenstein Castle. From the castle, the path goes downhill through the old village and over the Schwarzenbach until it meets the TIR 5 district road/Maria-Kulmer-Weg. Turn left and then immediately right again onto Kronaweg, following the Maria-Kulmer-Weg southwest to the neighboring village of Stein. At the entrance to Stein, the pilgrimage route meets the Oberpfalzweg again. Do not follow this, however, but continue south on the Maria-Kulmer-Weg to the center of Stein with the Church of St. Lawrence. At the junction by the church, the path turns left. It leads along the road across the fields towards Liebenstein Reservoir. After the Försterhof, you can see the Betzenmühle sawmill on the right. At the Betzenmühle junction, the Maria-Kulmer-Weg meets the Oberpfalzweg again. From here, follow the Oberpfalzweg again. The path goes about 30 m along the road towards Betzenmühle and then turns sharp left onto a forest path. This emerges in a small arc at the Schafmühle and then leads along the edge of the forest and then across the parking lot to the Liebenstein Reservoir. Cross the bridge over the lake. Shortly after the bridge, the Oberpfalzweg turns right at an acute angle and continues along the lakeshore. At the end of the lake, it crosses the Gaißbach and then turns south at the fish ponds. There, the Oberpfalzweg meets a road. Turn left to the Kriegermühle and then immediately after the property turn right to the south. At a series of fish ponds, the path becomes a road again, crosses the State Road 2172 and then turns right at the Geißmühle in Geisleithen towards Plößberg. The Oberpfalzweg and the Golden Road run parallel here. Shortly after the entrance to Plößberg, turn right onto Dreihöfer Straße and then left again at the Catholic Parish Church of St. George, passing south of the Evangelical Lutheran Parish Church of St. George to the main road. Follow the main road a short distance to the left and you will reach the market square. The Plößberg Museum, which includes a large collection of historical Christmas mangers, is located slightly to the north in the town hall (Jahnstr. 1). About 150 m west of the market square, on Schloßstraße, are the site of the former castle and the New Palace.

Info and contact addresses

– Tourist Info Tirschenreuth

Regensburger Str. 6, 95643 Tirschenreuth,

Tel.: +49/9631/600248, E-mail: stefanie.suess@stadt-tirschenreuth.de, www.stadt-tirschenreuth.de

Plößberg:

– Guest Information Plößberg

Jahnstr. 1, 95703 Plößberg

Tel.: +49/9636/9211-10, E-mail: gaesteinformation@ploessberg.de, www.tourismus-ploessberg.de

Museums

– Plößberg Museum

Jahnstr. 1, 95703 Plößberg

Appointments via Guest Information Plößberg

Tel.: +49/9636/9211-10, E-mail: gaesteinformation@ploessberg.de

Accommodation (selection)

Liebenstein:

– Hausmirtlhof

Prop. R. Bauer-Zölch, Liebenstein 19, 95703 Plößberg-Liebenstein

Tel.: +49/9631/2463, E-mail: mzoe@gmx.de, www.fw-zoelch.de

1 holiday apartment

Stein:

– Gasthof Beer

Prop. B. Beer, Stein 10, 95703 Plößberg-Stein

Tel.: +49/9636/296, Mobile: 0176/34349637, E-mail: pensionzurpost-ploessberg@t-online.de,

Plößberg:

– Pension zur Post

Prop. M. Auer-Bertelshofer, Marktplatz 3, 95703 Plößberg

Tel.: +49/9636/9244310, Mobile: 0176/34349637, E-mail: pensionzurpost-ploessberg@t-online.de,

– Gasthof Bayerischer Hof

Prop. M. Gollwitzer, Untere Bachgasse 11, 95703 Plößberg

Tel.: +49/9636/289

Restaurant, beer garden

– Camping-Platz Großer Weiher

Prop. W. Seiler, Großer-Weiher-Str. 22, 95703 Plößberg

Tel.: +49/9636/91248, E-mail: info@campingplatz-ploessberg.de

Restaurant, beer garden

– Further guesthouses and accommodation (host directory) via Guest Information Plößberg

Hildweinsreuth:

– Ferienhaus Hildegard

Prop. M. Völkl, Hildweinsreuth 6a + b, 92696 Flossenbürg-Hildweinsreuth

Tel.: +49/9636/1819, E-mail: m.voelkl@ferienhaus-hildegard.de, www.ferienhaus-hildegard.de

3 holiday apartments, sleeping barrel, sauna/steam bath, bakehouse, “Hildegard-Laden” – natural foods, literature, cosmetics, etc.

St. Ötzen:

– Pension St. Ötzener Hof

Prop. P. Schwanitz, St. Ötzen 1, 92696 Flossenbürg-St. Ötzen

Tel.: +49/9636/91975, E-mail: p.schwanitz@t-online.de, www.sankt-oetzener-hof.de

1 log cabin for 2-6 people, holiday apartment, 2 double rooms, 1 single room, inn

Flossenbürg:

– Pension Armin Münchmeier

Gaismühle 1, 92696 Flossenbürg

Tel.: +49/9603/337

– Campingplatz Gaisweiher

Prop. Kommunalservice Flossenbürg, Gaisweiher 1, 92696 Flossenbürg

Tel.: +49/9603/644, E-mail: campingplatz-gaisweiher@t-online.de

4 sleeping barrels, 1 apartment, camping, youth campsite

Bicycle rental

Hildweinsreuth:

– Ferienhaus Hildegard

Prop. M. Völkl, Hildweinsreuth 6a + b, 92696 Flossenbürg-Hildweinsreuth

Tel.: +49/9636/1819, E-mail: m.voelkl@ferienhaus-hildegard.de, www.ferienhaus-hildegard.de

E-bike rental