Schwarzach: Castle history on the market square and trails near Grandsberg

Schwarzach combines traces of its earlier architectural history on the market square with trails in the area around Grandsberg. Those who choose this destination can treat local history and activities in the surrounding area as two distinct focuses for their stay.

Local history on the market square

Parts of the former Oberschwarzach Castle are integrated into today’s market square. Remains of the former prince-electoral brewery, which was built in 1687, are also still present. The castle and brewery represent different historical uses and provide two specific points of reference for local history. Those interested in architectural history will find not just a single name here, but traces of various chapters in the town’s history.

Hiking and cross-country skiing in the area around Grandsberg

There are 70 km of marked hiking trails in the area around Grandsberg near Schwarzach. The Schwarzach–Grandsberg cross-country ski area has 40 km of groomed trails. The activities differ by type and season: marked paths invite you to go hiking, while the groomed trails are intended for cross-country skiing. When planning a winter day, you should take changing snow conditions into account.

When choosing a holiday apartment, it can be helpful to decide on your preferred focus: would you mainly like to learn about Schwarzach’s local history, or plan activities in the area around Grandsberg? This distinction makes your own travel interests the starting point for choosing a destination, without treating hiking and cross-country skiing as the same activity.

More topics in the wider Straubing-Bogen destination

The wider Straubing-Bogen destination is shaped by the Bavarian Forest, the fertile Gäuboden plain and the Danube. Bogenberg is one of the destination’s distinct cultural sites: it is one of Bavaria’s oldest Marian pilgrimage sites that remains active to this day. The Holzkirchen Candle Pilgrimage takes place every year at Pentecost at the pilgrimage church.

The Bogenberg District Museum presents the mountain as the Holy Mountain of Lower Bavaria and as the site of one of Bavaria’s oldest Marian pilgrimages. It also covers the history of the Bavarian lozenges—from the Counts of Windberg-Bogen, through their use by the Wittelsbachs and in the Bavarian state coat of arms, to their present-day status as a symbol of Bavaria. The museum offers individually designed guided tours about Bogenberg for groups of ten or more and for school classes. These can also be booked outside opening hours with advance notice by phone or in writing.

At the Bayerwald Xperium, visitors can explore natural phenomena and science for themselves at more than 100 hands-on experiment stations. In Bogen, the bee education trail in Europapark Bayern-Böhmen uses information panels and a real bee colony to share facts about honeybees; guided tours are currently unavailable. Also in Bogen are the “Culture Tour,” the “Beer Garden Tour” and “Left and Right of the Danube,” day trips for families with children.

The medieval village of Windberg sits on a hill at an elevation of 420 m and offers panoramic views of the mountains of the Bavarian Forest, the Bogenbach valley and the Danube plain. The monastery complex there includes a basilica, prelature, court office building and craftsman’s house; it is largely preserved. The landscape and architectural heritage here provide a different focus from the pilgrimage history at Bogenberg.

In Wiesenfelden, two circular routes differ in length and features: the Kobelberg Nature Discovery Trail is about 4.5 km long, has nine stations, is suitable for strollers and is also cleared in winter. The accessible circular trail around Beckenweiher is 2.3 km long and suitable for strollers and wheelchairs. Five information points with benches and information panels cover the area’s wildlife and plant life, its protected status and the history of the pond; the trail also crosses a 110 m-long nature observation boardwalk.

Discover more destinations

Perasdorf, Windberg, Rattiszell, Geiselhöring, Mitterfels, Salching, Rattenberg, Bogen

Back to the wider travel overview: Straubing-Bogen.