Auerbach i.d.OPf.: Civic Forest and Culture

Civic Forest and paved paths

The Civic Forest lies south of Auerbach: this continuous woodland covers around 520 hectares and is owned by the town. Numerous paved paths invite you to hike, cycle and ride. This offers several activities set within the same woodland landscape. If you enjoy spending your vacation days outdoors, you can consider which of these activities best suits your preferences when planning your trip.

The forest’s size gives nature a clear presence in the townscape. At the same time, the Civic Forest is just one of several specific starting points for a stay: history and tennis are also among the things that make Auerbach distinctive. When looking for a suitable place to stay, it therefore helps to first sort out your interests rather than limiting your stay to just one type of leisure activity.

Local history and tennis

St. Helena Cemetery Church in Auerbach dates back to around 1360. Its long history adds a cultural dimension alongside the active pursuits available in the Civic Forest. Those interested in historic sites will also find a subject in Auerbach that clearly differs from hiking, cycling and riding.

Auerbach has three tennis clubs with a total of 15 outdoor clay courts and one indoor court. Tennis can be played at these facilities. Whether non-members can play may vary. The different types of courts offer a specific point of reference for tennis enthusiasts: in addition to the outdoor courts, the clubs’ facilities also include an indoor court.

More to explore in the wider Amberg-Sulzbach destination

Beyond Auerbach, the wider Amberg-Sulzbach destination offers further landscapes and cultural attractions. The Amberg-Sulzbach region offers imposing limestone cliffs, gentle Jura hills, extensive forests and charming river valleys for hiking. One specific route is the Felsenweg: this 2.7-kilometre hike leads from Sackdilling through the rock labyrinth to the Bauernlöcher and takes about 45 minutes. The Juniper Hiking Trail is also one of the region’s most beautiful hiking trails.

The Mining and Industrial Museum of Eastern Bavaria at Kultur-Schloss Theuern provides an insight into industrial history. The museum researches and documents mining and industry in eastern Bavaria, keeping their history alive. The Erzweg connects sites with a mining tradition spanning more than 1,000 years and passes through cultural and natural landscapes. Amberg-Sulzbach thus brings hiking and nature together with a regional history shaped by mining and industry.

Active excursions also reveal different sides of the destination: near Wolfertsfeld, you can try traditional archery on the Bow-Vision 3D course, an approximately three-kilometre circular route through the farming woodland typical of the Upper Palatinate Jura. The Vils can be travelled by canoe from Hahnbach; the route passes unspoiled stretches of river, castles and historic Amberg. In Theuern, a nature observation platform was built at the edge of the wastewater treatment plant’s polishing ponds. The adjacent wetland, with the Vils, oxbow lakes and ponds, is a year-round resting and breeding site for local birds and those that migrate from the north.

The Kirwan festivals in the Amberg-Sulzbach region are also part of local cultural life. Since 2023, they have been part of Bavaria’s intangible cultural heritage. They are celebrated every year in their respective towns and are open to visitors and local residents. Regional cuisine can also play a role in planning: many restaurants regularly host traditional Schlachtschüssel meals. These include Wurschtsuppn, Kesselfleisch, and blood, liver and bratwurst made to their own recipes; dates vary by restaurant.

Choose a place to stay based on your interests

When looking for a holiday apartment in Auerbach, you can first consider whether the Civic Forest, local history or tennis should be your main focus. If you would also like to explore attractions in the wider Amberg-Sulzbach destination, consider a second question: which regional landscapes, cultural attractions or activities matter most to your travel plans? This way, you can choose where to stay based on the experiences that matter most to you.

Discover more destinations: Rieden, Kümmersbruck, Etzelwang, Vilseck, Schmidmühlen, Edelsfeld, Hohenburg, Ursensollen.

Go to the overview of the wider destination: Amberg-Sulzbach.