Pegnitz: Karst Spring, Views and Town History

Karst Landscape and Views

At 544 metres, Schloßberg is a landmark of Pegnitz. The tower there can be reached by climbing 97 steps; from the top, panoramic views extend across Pegnitz and the surrounding area. The number of steps is a specific point to consider when including this viewpoint in your day’s plans. Another viewpoint is Kleine Kulm: at 626 metres, it is one of the highest elevations in Franconian Switzerland. From there, the view stretches across the Franconian Forest, the Fichtel Mountains and Franconian Switzerland.

Water also reveals the distinctive forms of the karst landscape. At the “Karstwunder” water feature on Wasserberg, the Mühlbach loses some of its water on the northern slope through limestone fissures and a ponor cave. The Pegnitz spring offers another example of a karst phenomenon; it lies behind the former Zaußen Mill. The mill itself was built around 1450 by Hans Zauß and rebuilt in 1710 by Hans Dennerlein after decades of ruin.

Exploring on Foot

The town walk starts and ends at the Old Town Hall at Hauptstraße 45. It is approximately 3.5 or 5.7 kilometres long. If you want to plan your day around a specific route length, you can take these two figures into account; they do not indicate walking time or trail conditions. The Leo-Jobst-Weg starts and ends at the Pegnitz spring behind the Zaußen Mill, Bayreuther Straße 3 / Forchheim. This gives you two named walks with different starting points and available route-length information.

For families planning to use a stroller, one restriction is important: the WaldTIERlehrpfad is not suitable for strollers. Take this into account when choosing activities, rather than assuming the nature trail is suitable for every type of mobility.

Town History and Culture

The Historic Town Hall was built around 1347 and stands in the middle of the long street market. The building history of the site can be traced at St. Bartholomew’s Church: it is the third church to stand here, and the present church was consecrated in 1900. St. Mary’s Church was built in 1927 for a diaspora community that had grown to around 600 Catholics. It acquired its present appearance around 1939, when it received the Baroque furnishings from Dornbach Church.

Altenstädter Castle is also part of the town’s cultural life. It has been extensively renovated and remodelled and is used for municipal concerts and events. Pegnitz’s event programme also includes the Pegnitz Summer Concerts. Those interested in local history can also visit the rock memorial on Fischelhöhe: it was erected at the site of the crash in 1973, and a plaque records the names of all the soldiers who lost their lives. The entrance to the “Erwein” tunnel is on the site of the present-day municipal depot.

Planning Your Trip

Since June 2021, Pegnitz has been served by the regional leisure bus route, the Schlösserlinie, which connects Bayreuth, Pegnitz, Pottenstein, Gößweinstein, Waischenfeld, Hollfeld and Kulmbach. When choosing your holiday apartment in Pegnitz, you can start by considering whether town history, walks, or the karst landscape and views are the main focus of your trip.

For more options in the area: Trockau, Schnabelwaid, Seybothenreuth, Betzenstein, Mehlmeisel, Weidenberg, Bad Berneck in the Fichtel Mountains and Heinersreuth.

For the broader travel overview: Bayreuth.