Freyung-Grafenau: Discover Nature and History

Freyung-Grafenau combines impressive natural landscapes with traces of human history and cultural discoveries. The Bavarian Forest National Park extends into the district; at Buchberger Leite, the landscape takes the form of a narrow, rocky gorge. Other highlights include the historic Schramlhaus and the Gabreta Archaeological Adventure Park. This lets you choose different themes for your trip rather than reducing nature and culture to a single way of exploring.

National Park and Gorge Landscapes

The Bavarian Forest National Park extends into the Freyung-Grafenau district and opened on October 7, 1970, as Germany's first national park. 75.37 percent of its area belongs to the natural zones. This gives the district's nature experiences a concrete point of reference: the national park is not just a name for the region, but a distinct part of its landscape.

You can experience a particularly striking landscape at the Buchberger Leite Wildbachklamm gorge. There, steep rocky ridges force the Wolfsteiner Ohe, with its gravel beds and cascades, into a deeply confined channel. Remnants of primeval forest have survived in the gorge's moss- and fern-rich woodlands. Those interested in water, rocks and forests will find a different natural highlight here than in the national park.

An eight-kilometre themed hiking trail runs through Buchberger Leite between Freyung and Ringelai. Information boards and an accompanying brochure provide further details along the way. Historic timber-floating walls, tunnels hewn into the rock and above-ground channels also recall centuries of human activity in the gorge. Nature and history stand side by side here: the gorge is shaped not only by its rocks and waterways, but also bears visible traces of earlier work.

Experiences near Neuschönau

Near Neuschönau, the treetop walk is part of the Lusen National Park Centre. Also near Neuschönau, the wildlife enclosure gives visitors the opportunity to learn about the national park and its native wildlife. The circular trails there are also suitable for small children who are not yet able to walk long distances. For families looking for a manageable walk as a separate outing, this is a concrete way to discover the national park's wildlife.

The two attractions offer different experiences: the treetop walk is part of the Lusen National Park Centre, while the wildlife enclosure focuses on native wildlife and information about the national park. When choosing your holiday apartment, you can consider which of these outings matters most for your trip and which of the places mentioned you would like to include in your plans.

Historical and Cultural Discoveries

Built around 1700, the Schramlhaus is now the oldest farmhouse in Freyung and, in its original condition, one of the oldest in the Freyung-Grafenau district. It houses the Wolfstein Local History Museum and more than a hundred original, well-preserved examples of reverse glass painting, a form of religious folk art. A visit thus connects the history of a farmhouse with a collection whose paintings offer a distinct perspective on folk art.

The Gabreta Archaeological Adventure Park offers a different way to explore history. It features buildings reconstructed from original Celtic structures and symbolic of Celtic finds discovered on Paul Freund hill. Bread baking is one of the hands-on activities available to visitors. Expert-led tours about Celtic life can also be booked. You can decide whether to focus on the reconstructed buildings, a hands-on activity or a more in-depth tour.

Choosing the Right Focus for Your Trip

When looking for a holiday apartment, it helps to first weigh up the experiences in Freyung-Grafenau that interest you most. The themed hiking trail through Buchberger Leite runs between Freyung and Ringelai. Neuschönau is mentioned in connection with the Lusen National Park Centre and the wildlife enclosure. For an interest in cultural history, the Schramlhaus in Freyung and the Gabreta Adventure Park provide further specific points of interest. The district lies in the tri-border region of Bavaria, Bohemia and Austria. You can therefore choose accommodation based on your travel interests and the associated place names, without combining nature, family and cultural activities into a single outing.

Other Places in the District

Other places you can discover: Neureichenau, Waldkirchen, Haidmühle, Schöfweg, Saldenburg, Ringelai, Röhrnbach, Perlesreut, Zenting, Schönberg, Philippsreut, Innernzell, Sankt Oswald-Riedlhütte, Hinterschmiding, Sankt Oswald, Neuschönau, Spiegelau, Thurmansbang, Hohenau, Jandelsbrunn, Eppenschlag, Fürsteneck, Freyung, Grafenau, Mauth and Grainet.

For the higher-level travel overview: Bavaria.