Discover Kirchendemenreuth

Kirchendemenreuth’s St. John the Baptist Parish Church offers a tangible point of reference for anyone interested in sacred art and architectural history. The ceiling’s imagery, the tower’s architecture and the origins of the high altar each tell a different part of the church’s story.

The parish church’s imagery and architectural history

The coffered ceiling features Helena with the cross, Veronica with the sudarium, an angel with the instruments of the Passion, as well as John the Baptist and John the Evangelist, all set within marbled frames. Several depictions of saints and the instruments of the Passion thus appear side by side. When viewing church art, you can pay attention to the individual figures and their different attributes.

The tower’s architecture also has a clear connection to a specific period: it was renovated in 1766, when the dome and the column gallery were added. The Rococo high altar, in turn, comes from the demolished church at Barbaraberg near Speinshart and was restored during the church’s general renovation. The parish church therefore brings together a distinct programme of imagery, a dated phase of construction and an altar with its own story of origin.

Cycle routes in the wider travel destination of Neustadt An Der Waldnaab

Route 10 of the Simultaneous Churches Cycle Route starts at Windischeschenbach railway station and heads towards Kirchendemenreuth. The route information lists rail connections at Windischeschenbach and Reuth bei Erbendorf. The stations are therefore useful reference points for planning a regional tour; they are not in Kirchendemenreuth. Check current train connections and route information before setting off.

Another cycling option in the wider travel destination of Neustadt An Der Waldnaab is the Bockl: the 52-kilometre route runs from Neustadt an der Waldnaab to Eslarn along a historic railway line. It can be travelled on foot, by bicycle or on inline skates. The Bockl is mostly paved and traffic-free; gradients rarely exceed three per cent. This information can help you weigh up the distance, surface and mode of travel when planning your day.

The Bockl’s starting point in Neustadt an der Waldnaab is directly accessible by train. Trains run hourly to the terminus of the Nuremberg–Neustadt an der Waldnaab line, where you can transfer directly to your bicycle. For planning, the key is finding a suitable connection to the starting point; check the timetable before your trip.

Culture, nature and regional discoveries

Cultural attractions in the wider travel destination of Neustadt An Der Waldnaab range from Speinshart Monastery Church to the historic walking tour in Parkstein. The monastery church is one of the most significant Baroque buildings in southern Germany and is distinguished by its Italian High Baroque furnishings. The monastery and the preserved historic village of Speinshart together form a cultural heritage site of European significance. A public guided tour of the church takes place every Sunday and public holiday at 3 p.m.; check the details before your visit, as tour times may change.

In Parkstein, the historic walking tour begins at the Landrichter Castle, which houses the Parkstein Volcanic Experience Museum. A volcanic eruption is simulated there every hour and can be experienced across three levels; times may change. Geopark rangers also offer guided tours of the basalt wall, the rock cellars and the basalt cone. Here, too, it is advisable to check availability before your trip. In 2003, the basalt cone was included on the list of Bavaria’s 100 most beautiful geotopes, and in 2006 it was awarded the designation “National Geotope”.

Another nature experience is the approximately 750-metre stretch of the Girnitz stream in the Doost Nature Reserve. There, it flows through a sea of massive, rounded granite boulders. Several hiking trails from Neustadt/WN, Weiden and Floß provide access to this stretch. Zoigl is also part of the regional culture in Windischeschenbach: 17 Zoigl brewers, including 12 traditional communal brewers, take turns serving the local beer speciality in their Zoigl taverns on weekends. As dates may change, it is worth checking the latest serving times.

When looking for a holiday apartment, you can weigh up your travel interests: is the parish church in Kirchendemenreuth your main focus, or would you prefer to plan your trip around cycling tours, cultural attractions and nature spots in the wider travel destination of Neustadt An Der Waldnaab? This distinction provides a practical starting point for choosing the right focus for your holiday.

Discover more destinations: Schwarzenbach, Parkstein, Waidhaus, Floß, Leuchtenberg, Schirmitz, Vohenstrauß, Störnstein.

Back to the overview of the wider travel destination: Neustadt An Der Waldnaab.