Straubing-Bogen: Nature, Culture and Family Experiences

Nature Trails and Views

The medieval village of Windberg lies on a hill at an elevation of 420 metres. From there, panoramic views extend to the mountains of the Bavarian Forest, the Bogenbach Valley and across the Danube Plain. The largely preserved monastery complex, with its basilica, prelature, courthouse and craftsmen’s house, also makes Windberg a destination for anyone looking to combine landscapes with architectural history.

In Wiesenfelden, the Kobelberg Nature Experience Trail offers a circular route of about 4.5 kilometres with nine stations. The trail is suitable for strollers and is also cleared in winter. A shorter alternative is the 2.3-kilometre circular trail around Beckenweiher Pond: it is barrier-free and suitable for strollers and wheelchairs. Five information points with benches and information boards explore the animal and plant life, conservation status and history of the pond. The circular trail also includes a 110-metre-long nature observation walkway. The two trails therefore differ not only in length, but also in their stations and areas of focus.

Pilgrimage and History at Bogenberg

Bogenberg is one of Bavaria’s oldest Marian pilgrimage sites that is still active today. The Holzkirchen Candle Pilgrimage takes place at the pilgrimage church every year at Pentecost. The Bogenberg District Museum explores the significance of the site and also tells the story 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 status as a symbol of Bavaria. The museum offers individually tailored guided tours about Bogenberg for groups of ten or more and school classes. These can also be booked outside opening hours by making an advance booking by phone or in writing.

Hands-on Activities and Outings with Children

If you prefer to try out natural phenomena for yourself, the Bayerwald Xperium has more than 100 science experiment stations. In Bogen, the bee nature trail in Europapark Bayern-Böhmen shares fascinating facts about honeybees through information boards and a real bee colony. Families with children can also choose from the “Kultur-Tour,” “Biergarten-Tour” and “Links und Rechts der Donau” day trips in Bogen.

Near Sankt Englmar, the WaldWipfelWeg combines a barrier-free walk among the treetops with a nature experience trail. The walkway reaches a height of up to 30 metres; the nature experience trail has hands-on stations, climbing opportunities and animals such as alpacas, llamas, sheep and kangaroos. The WaldWipfelWeg is also home to the one-of-a-kind “Upside-Down House,” unique in Bavaria: it stands entirely on its roof, and everything inside is upside down. Express Bus Route 58 runs hourly to the WaldWipfelWeg from Viechtach and Bogen railway stations. In Sankt Englmar, the Bayerwald-Bob and Bayerwald-Coaster each offer a 1,000-metre-long track and can be used in any weather.

Hiking and Cycling

The European VIA NOVA Pilgrimage Route also passes through Bogen and is marked as a hiking trail along its total length of around 300 kilometres. For cycling holidaymakers, the Labertal Cycle Route in the Straubing-Bogen district runs through the Gäuboden, along flat cycle paths and quiet side roads. These different options offer useful guidance when planning your holiday: you can focus on a hike, a bike ride, a nature trail or a cultural visit, then choose the right area for your holiday apartment.

More Places in Straubing-Bogen

Discover Mitterfels, Sankt Englmar, Wiesenfelden, Straubing, Rattenberg, Konzell, Haibach, Ascha, Geiselhöring, Schwarzach, Rattiszell, Hunderdorf, Aiterhofen, Kirchroth, Neukirchen, Bogen, Windberg, Stallwang, Steinach, Perasdorf, Salching, Haselbach and Atting.

For the overview of the wider region: Bavaria.