Lichtenberg: Castle, Old Town and Höllental
Accommodation in Lichtenberg
A distinctive feature of Lichtenberg is the contrast between historic sights in the town and the surrounding landscape. The castle ruins stand on Schlossberg above the town; from the castle tower, the view extends across Lichtenberg and the neighbouring forests and fields. Höllental has marked hiking trails, two wooden bridges and the larger-than-life deer sculpture Hirschsprung. These features give your trip different focal points: local history and the Old Town on the one hand, striking scenery and hiking trails on the other.
Blick auf die Burgruine von Lichtenberg vom Hirschsprung im Höllental aus.
Photo: Benreis via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Castle ruins on Schlossberg
Lichtenberg Castle was burned down by imperial troops in 1634 during the Thirty Years’ War; it has remained in ruins ever since. The ruin that survives today is a direct reminder of this historical turning point. At the same time, the castle tower offers a view across the town and out to the neighbouring forests and fields. History and landscape come together here in a single panorama: the town lies below Schlossberg, while the view also takes in its natural surroundings. If you are interested in the town’s past, the ruins offer a tangible link to the Thirty Years’ War; if you are more interested in the present-day townscape, you can take in Lichtenberg and the surrounding fields and forests from the tower.
Old Town and Castle Festival
The Old Town includes a late-medieval market square and narrow historic lanes. The open space of the square and the more intimate streetscape of the lanes offer contrasting impressions. The historic centre thus complements the castle with a second perspective on Lichtenberg: alongside the striking building on Schlossberg, the more intimate townscape takes centre stage. For planning your trip, this offers a clear distinction between the history of the castle and that of the town, even though both contribute to Lichtenberg’s historic character.
A recurring cultural event is the Lichtenberg Castle Festival. It is held every year in early September on Schlossberg and in the Old Town. The organisers alternate between the Burgfreunde and the Burgkultur association; around 8,000 visitors gather over the festival weekend. With both historic areas serving as festival venues, the event is closely connected to the town’s defining landmarks. If you are planning to visit for the Castle Festival, check the exact festival dates before your trip.
Hiking trails and viewpoints nearby
Nearby Höllental has numerous marked hiking trails with a combined length of more than 30 kilometres. This figure refers to all the trails together, not to the length of any one route. The valley is also home to Hirschsprung, a larger-than-life wooden deer figure that seems poised to leap into the valley. The two wooden bridges, Jungfernsteg and Teufelssteg, are also distinctive features of Höllental. Teufelssteg is associated with a legend that the devil is said to have been seen there.
The König David viewpoint is 170 metres above the valley floor. From there, the view extends into the Selbitz valley and across to Lichtenberg. This differs from the view from the castle tower: König David looks into the Selbitz valley and back towards the town, while the tower takes in Lichtenberg and the neighbouring forests and fields. If you enjoy comparing scenic views, you will find two different perspectives here. Together with the hiking trails and named bridges, they complement the historic landmarks with natural attractions nearby.
Find a holiday apartment to suit your travel interests
When looking for a holiday apartment in Lichtenberg, your preferred focus can help guide your search: are the castle ruins, Old Town and Castle Festival your main interests, or would you like to focus your trip more on the nearby hiking trails and viewpoints?
Discover more destinations: Konradsreuth, Issigau, Berg, Schauenstein, Rehau, Trogen, Schwarzenbach Am Wald, Münchberg
Go to the main travel overview: Hof.
