Mauth: Nature, Trails and Glass Art
Accommodation in Mauth
The municipality of Mauth lies right next to the Bavarian Forest and Bohemian Forest National Parks. Trails, an audio station and glassmaking offer different ways to experience the destination. As you plan your holiday, consider whether a hike, a pilgrimage stage or a hands-on craft experience should shape the pace of your day.
Forest and trails in Mauth
The Bavarian Forest National Park stretches along the Bavarian-Czech border between Bayerisch Eisenstein in the district of Regen and Mauth in the district of Freyung-Grafenau. The Kingfisher Trail is a hiking destination that passes through Mauth. It is certified by the German Hiking Association and follows the Steinbach upstream to the Steinbachklause, a historic timber-floating structure. One section of the trail is seasonally closed from 1 December to 31 March; a diversion is signposted.
Another route option is the VIA NOVA pilgrimage trail stage. It runs from Kreuzberg via Vierhäuser, Mauth and Finsterau to the state border. At the last check, its trail markings were incomplete, so check the latest route information before setting out. This offers two different ways of travelling: a trail to a named historic structure and a pilgrimage stage that passes through several places.
Listening, craftsmanship and nature experiences
An audio station in the centre of Mauth provides information about Andreas Hartauer and the song “Tief drin im Böhmerwald”. This cultural point of interest differs from the hiking trails: the focus here is on the song’s history, not a route through the landscape.
The Mauth glassblowing workshop offers demonstrations of traditional glassmaking in the municipality. Visitors can blow their own glass ball under guidance. Check with the operator before your visit. The restored Finsterauer Filz raised bog is another nature destination in the municipality: a short detour from the Finsterau Tour leads there. A low-barrier nature trail runs through the bog over wooden boardwalks, and information panels introduce its flora and fauna. Check the latest conditions before visiting.
In summer, the Finsterau racing ski trail is used as a roller-ski track and prepared for roller skiing, cycling and running. Confirm current access locally. The options within the municipality therefore range from hiking and pilgrimage trails to a bog experience and seasonal training on the ski trail.
Freyung-Grafenau: contrasts in nature and culture
In the wider destination of Freyung-Grafenau, the Bavarian Forest National Park opened on 7 October 1970 as Germany’s first national park. The park stretches along the Bavarian-Czech border between Bayerisch Eisenstein and Mauth. According to the 2024 zoning plan, 75.37 percent of its area is designated as natural zones. These regional details provide a broader context for the landscape around Mauth.
The Buchberger Leite Wild Gorge presents a different natural landscape. 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 woods. An eight-kilometre themed hiking trail, with information panels and an accompanying brochure, leads through the gorge between Freyung and Ringelai. Historic timber-floating walls, tunnels hewn into the rock and surface canals bear witness to centuries of human activity there.
In Freyung, the Schramlhaus adds a cultural history landmark to the nature destinations. Built around 1700, the house is now the oldest farmhouse in Freyung and, in its original condition, one of the oldest in the district of Freyung-Grafenau. It houses more than a hundred original examples of reverse glass painting, a form of sacred folk art. The Wolfstein Local History Museum is also located in the Schramlhaus.
Choose the right holiday apartment for your plans
If you are looking for a holiday apartment in Mauth, base your choice of location on your plans: do you want to focus on the Kingfisher Trail, are you interested in a glass-blowing demonstration, or would you like to explore nature and cultural destinations across the wider Freyung-Grafenau area? The experiences mentioned are in different places and areas. Choose a starting point that suits the holiday days you have planned.
Discover more destinations: Finsterau.
Discover more destinations: Grainet, Grafenau, Spiegelau, Röhrnbach, Thurmansbang, Hohenau, Neureichenau.
Go to the overview of the wider destination: Freyung-Grafenau.
