Discover Grainet: Trails and Churches
Accommodation in Grainet
In Grainet, hiking, cycling and church visits offer different ways to spend your time. A clearly specified section of the Goldsteig passes through the village; the Chapel Trail connects several communities and draws attention to wayside religious landmarks. When choosing a holiday apartment, it may help to consider first whether you would prefer to focus on hiking, mountain biking or traces of local culture.
Die Gipfelregion des Dreisesselbergs zählt zu den regionalen Ausflugszielen rund um Grainet.
Photo: Aconcagua ( talk ) via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Hiking the Goldsteig and the Chapel Trail
The long-distance hiking trail “Goldsteig” is 660 kilometres long in total; 14 kilometres pass through Grainet. This section is listed as taking 3.5 hours and involving an elevation difference of 330 metres. It is considered an easy trail. These figures distinguish the Grainet section from the overall length of the long-distance trail and provide a specific guide for planning your hike.
Guided hikes organised by the Grainet Tourism Association are aimed at holidaymakers and local residents. If you would like to plan a guided hike, check locally for availability.
Themed hiking trail “Chapel Trail” connects the Haidel communities of Hinterschmiding, Grainet, Philippsreut, Haidmühle and Neureichenau. It passes numerous wayside shrines, roadside crosses and village chapels, as well as several parish churches. The Chapel Trail therefore focuses on cultural sights along the way, while the Goldsteig offers a different hiking perspective through its total length and the designated section through Grainet.
Churches and cycling route
Grainet’s churches also tell different chapters of the village’s history. St Nicholas Church was built in the late Middle Ages and dedicated to Saint Nicholas. The Church of the Holy Trinity was built in 1756 and features Baroque elements. Those interested in the history of religious architecture can explore two churches with different historical connections.
For mountain biking, the designated “Trans Bayerwald” cycling route is another option for exploring the region. Grainet thus offers hiking trails with different focuses alongside an opportunity to explore by mountain bike. When planning, you can consider which kind of activity you would like to shape your holiday days.
More discoveries in the wider Freyung-Grafenau destination
The wider Freyung-Grafenau destination also offers nature and cultural attractions that differ from those in Grainet. The Bavarian Forest National Park extends into Freyung-Grafenau district and opened on 7 October 1970 as Germany’s first national park. According to the 2024 zoning map, 75.37 percent of its area is designated as natural zones.
In the Buchberger Leite Wildbachklamm gorge, steep rock ridges force the boulder-strewn, cascading Wolfsteiner Ohe into a deeply confined channel. Remnants of primeval forest have survived in the gorge’s moss- and fern-rich woodlands. An eight-kilometre themed hiking trail, with information boards and an accompanying brochure, runs through the gorge between Freyung and Ringelai. Historic timber-floating walls, tunnels hewn into the rock and above-ground canals bear witness to centuries of human activity there.
The Schramlhaus in Freyung offers a different cultural highlight. Built around 1700, this rural homestead is now the oldest of its kind in Freyung and, in terms of its original character, is among the oldest in Freyung-Grafenau district. It houses the Wolfstein Local History Museum and more than one hundred original, well-preserved examples of reverse glass painting, a form of sacred folk art.
Near Neuschönau, the treetop walk is part of the Lusen National Park Centre. At the nearby animal enclosure, visitors can learn about the national park and its native wildlife. The circular trails are suitable for small children who are not yet able to cover long distances. This is a practical guide for families looking for an outing with shorter circular trails in the wider Freyung-Grafenau destination.
The Gabreta Archaeological Adventure Park features buildings reconstructed on the basis of original Celtic structures. They symbolise Celtic artefacts discovered on the hill of Paul Freund. Expert-led tours about Celtic life can also be booked.
Discover more destinations
Discover more destinations: Eppenschlag, Zenting, Sankt Oswald, Fürsteneck, Waldkirchen, Hinterschmiding, Hohenau, Saldenburg.
Back to the wider travel overview: Freyung-Grafenau.
