Drachselsried: Hiking Trails, Glass Art and Kirwa

Hiking trails with clear destinations

The Drachselsried hiking network comprises 17 destination hikes and 21 circular hikes. These routes offer different experiences: a destination hike focuses on a particular place, while a circular hike returns to its starting point. If you like having a specific destination for a day of hiking, consider the blue-marked Dr 1 trail (Goldsteig access route). It starts at the Drachselsried Tourist Information Office and climbs to the Schareben forest clearing at an elevation of 1,000 m. This makes it possible to consider the question “circular route or destination?” in relation to a specific trail, rather than simply comparing the number of routes.

The Goldsteig section running along the communities of Arnbruck and Drachselsried in the Zellertal offers another point of reference: it passes between the Kaitersberg massif and the Großer Arber. These two landmarks give the section a scenic setting that differs from the targeted hike to the Schareben forest clearing. When planning your holiday, you can therefore first ask yourself whether you would prefer to head for a single destination or follow a route between prominent mountain areas.

Specific destinations are also listed for winter: Drachselsried has five marked snowshoe trails, two of which lead from Schareben to the Enzian and Schwarzeck. Check the information for the relevant season before your trip before making firm plans for one of these hikes.

See glass art and watch it being made

The Herrmann Glass Gallery presents a private collection of studio glass from the 1970s and international glass art. It includes more than 1,000 objects by 150 artists from over 30 nations. Visits and guided tours of the collection are free. The gallery offers a cultural focus of its own alongside the hiking trails, from studio glass works to glass art from around the world.

At the Fuchs Glass Studio, visitors can watch animal figures being made from coloured glass rods over an open flame. Demonstrations take place Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Wednesdays from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. If you would like to time your visit specifically around the glassmaking, check the demonstration hours in advance.

Kirwa and nearby destinations

The Drachselsried Kirwa is a four-day church fair held on the last weekend in August. Traditionally, it begins on Friday evening with a band concert in the village square. If you would like to include the festival in your trip, you can plan your stay around this recurring period and check the specific event dates before making arrangements.

In the area around Drachselsried, a detour to the Schareben mountain hut along the Goldsteig is recommended. The inn is about 1.5 km below the Reischflecksattel and serves hearty dishes, as well as cakes and gateaux. The Zellertal church and chapel hiking trail also runs through the area around Arnbruck and Drachselsried. Following religious routes, it passes a total of 30 churches and chapels, offering a different focus from the glass art collection or a single hike.

When choosing a holiday apartment, you can use your preferred focus for the holiday as a guide: should the trip be shaped mainly by hiking destinations, glass art or the festival weekend? The trails described, the collection and the demonstrations offer specific starting points for making that choice. If you are travelling specifically for a demonstration, the festival or a seasonal hike, include the relevant dates or seasonal information in your plans.

Discover more destinations: Grafenried, Ruhmannsfelden, Böbrach, Viechtach, Kirchberg Im Wald, Bodenmais, Patersdorf, Regen.

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