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The Trip

Germany has a long-standing history of long-distance trails, the first one being established in 1830.

Our trip starts at the cold-war border between West and East Germany and follows the Frankenweg (Franconia Trail) for half of its length through the province Franconia, which can be roughly placed between the river valleys of the Danube and the Main in the southeastern part of the country. Though Franconia is politically part of the state of Bavaria, the people, towns and scenery are quite different from what most U.S. tourists would typically associate with “Bavarian.” There are no high mountains, but the landscape is dominated by gentle ridges that are dotted with limestone towers and cliffs. Green forests, meadows, and pastures cover the lovely valleys and hillsides. Our hike connects quaint old villages and small towns, each of them having its own history, which is reflected in castles, fortresses, market squares, and small streets with the half-timbered houses that are typical for the area.

One highlight on our trail will be the town of Kulmbach, with its impressive castle, Plassenburg. Being Germany’s beer capital with the highest number of breweries per resident, it also hosts the Bavarian Brewery Museum.

Our trip ends with a whole day of sightseeing in Nuremberg, Franconia’s largest city. We tour the Imperial Castle, residence of the German kings and emperors, and walk through the old town center with its medieval churches and houses. The city also hosts several museums, such as the Toy Museum; the Germanische National Museum, which shows ancient and medieval history, culture and arts of Germany; and the birthhouse of the Renaissance painter Albrecht Dürer. You will have the opportunity to visit one of the museums on that day.

Itinerary

Day 1: We meet early afternoon at the central railway station in downtown Nuremberg (Nürnberg). Participants need to plan their travel so that they arrive in Nuremberg at least one day before the trip starts and are advised to stay at a hotel the night before we meet (this is not included in the trip price). From Nuremberg we will take a two-hour train ride to the town of Bad Steben near the starting point of our trek.

Day 2: Unterreichenstein - Naila (13 miles). A short taxi ride brings us to the start of our hike in Unterreichenstein located right at the former border between Western and Eastern Germany. The place that hosted fences, mine fields and armed border patrols and was impenetrable in both directions during the Cold War is now the hub of three major German long-distance trails. We make our way through the narrow canyon of the Höllental into the town of Naila.

Day 3: Naila - Döbraberg - Bischofsmühle (11 miles). For the next three days our trek traverses the Frankenwald forest, Bavaria’s northernmost mountain range. We ascend the Döbraberg, which, at 2,500 feet, is the highest point on our hike. Its summit lookout tower offers a 360-degree view of the area. After passing the remnants of an old castle we reach the Bischofsmühle, a former timber mill, which has been transformed into a restaurant and country inn.

Day 4: Bischofsmühle - Mittelberg (16 miles). We follow the narrow valley of the Wilde Rodach River, which has been utilized for timber rafting from the Middle Ages till the 19th century, before ascending again to the southern ridge of the Frankenwald.

Day 5: Mittelberg - Kronach (13 miles). Leaving the forested Frankenwald ridges we reach the county capital of Kronach, the birthplace of the Renaissance painter Lucas Cranach. Before descending into the historic town, which lies at the confluence of three rivers, we have the opportunity to visit the formidable Rosenberg fortress, which was built in the 16th century.

Day 6: Kronach - Kulmbach (16 miles). Today we try to get a very early start as our day’s goal is Kulmbach, Germany’s beer capital. It is the home of several big breweries, one of them hosting the Bavarian Brewery Museum. High above the city stands the Plassenburg, another impressive Renaissance fortress, which was owned by the Hohenzollern dynasty who governed Prussia and later all of Germany.

Day 7: Kulmbach - Weismain (16 miles). After crossing the valley of the Main, Franconia’s major river, we slowly ascend the Franconia Jura, a low-elevation but expansive mountain range that stretches as far south as the Danube River. Little creeks and rivers have carved into the limestone plateau and the landscape is dotted with little cliffs and rock towers.

Day 8: Weismain - Vierzehnheiligen - Staffelstein (13 miles). Today’s highlight is the Vierzehnheiligen, a beautiful baroque pilgrim church from the 18th century. It overlooks the Main Valley and is surrounded by green pastures and meadow.

Day 9: Staffelstein - Schesslitz (14 miles). Our trek traverses the Staffelberg mountain, which was site of the Celtic town of Oppidum around 500 BC. Today it is home of several endangered animals and plants, and the area has been put under protection.

Day 10: Schesslitz - Veilbronn (17 miles). On this long day hike we pass the Giechburg, a well-preserved castle from the Renaissance time, and follow the valley of the Leinleiter Creek. Our lunch stop, Heroldsmühle, is again an old mill that has been converted into a country restaurant.

Day 11: Veilbronn - Streitberg - Muggendorf (10 miles). A relatively short and easy day following the valleys of the Leinleiter and Wiesent rivers. On our way we pass the ruins of the Streitburg castle and the Binghöhle, a limestone cave with impressive dripstone formations.

Day 12: Muggendorf - Gössweinstein - Pottenstein (13 miles). We are now in the valley of the Wiesent river, the heart of the Franconia Jura mountains. The area is also called the Franconia Swiss, because of its beautiful scenery. On our way we first pass the town of Gössweinstein, which hosts a castle sitting high above the river valley and another famous baroque pilgrim church. Later on we walk through the quaint little town of Tüchersfeld, which is renowned for its display of historic half-timbered houses that are nestled under large towers of limestone rock.

Day 13: Pottenstein - Obertrubach (11 miles). Our trek leaves the valley of the Wiesent River and reaches the Teufelshöhle (devil's cave), one of Germany’s largest limestone caves, which is worth a visit. We pass the ruins of the castle of Leienfels, occupied by robber barons during the Middle Ages, before descending into the lovely Trubachtal Valley, which is the site of several old mills.

Day 14: Obertrubach - Eggloffstein - Gräfenberg (11 miles). Our trail leads high above the Trubachtal Valley into Eggloffstein. The old castle sitting above town has been owned by the same family since the 12th century. Proceeding through the romantic Todsfeldtal Valley we will lunch at Hohenschwärz microbrew pub before we reach the end of our trek in Gräfenberg. A short train ride followed by a 15-minute walk brings us to our hotel in the historic city center of Nuremberg.

Day 15: We spend the whole day sightseeing in Nuremberg. After touring the Imperial Castle and walking through the historic downtown area with its two gothic cathedrals St. Sebald and St. Lorenz, you have the choice to visit one of the several museums, for example the Toy Museum (showing world history of toys), the Germanische National Museum (showing ancient and medieval history, culture and arts of Germany and central Europe), or the Albrecht Dürer House (showing paintings by the famous Renaissance master who was born there).

Day 16: Our trip ends today. After breakfast we pack our bags and say good-bye. You might want to stay one more day in Nuremberg or in the general area or depart to the airport on your own.

Please note that unforeseen circumstances such as bad weather or unavailability of accommodations might necessitate some adjustments to the planned agenda.

Getting There

Nuremberg’s airport can be reached from most major U.S. cities with one stopover at Frankfurt, Munich or Amsterdam. It can also be easily reached by a 1- to 2-hour train ride from Frankfurt or Munich. Transportation to the starting point (Nuremberg central train station at day 1) and from the ending point (our hotel in downtown Nuremberg on day 16) is the responsibility of each participant. Sightseeing opportunities in Nuremberg and the surrounding area are abundant. The leader is happy to give advice and recommend hotels for the night before the group meets.

Accommodations and Food

Our shared accommodations each night will be in B&B inns, guesthouses, and small country hotels. The rooms are simple but comfortable, all double-occupancy and equipped with shower and bathroom. Participants who prefer a single room and are willing to pay the difference should contact the leader well in advance and check for availability. Each day our luggage will be transported by our hosts to the accommodation where we will stay the next night.

Typical breakfast selections in the hotels and B&B inns include coffee, tea, fruit juice, homemade rolls and bread, butter, fruit preserves or jams, muesli, yoghurt, cheese, and soft-boiled eggs.

For dinners we can expect a sample of the hearty Franconian cuisine. Popular main course dishes are roasted or braised pork and beef (sauerbraten), occasionally also veal, poultry and game, potato dumplings, potato salad, hearty sauces and soups, and last but not least, sauerkraut. Bavaria is, of course, renowned for world-class beers; the Franconia province especially for its prolific number of micro-breweries.

All breakfasts, dinner meals, and tips on the trip are included in the price. Our first meal will be dinner on the evening of day 1 and our last meal will be breakfast on the morning of day 16.

Participants pay for all their own lunches, snacks, and drinks. Lunches can be purchased most days in local supermarkets, delis, or small restaurants that we pass along the way. Some of our hotels and inns also offer lunch packages for take out.

Trip Difficulty

As obvious from the agenda, this is a hiking-oriented outing. We will be hiking for 13 consecutive days covering 10-17 miles every day. On a typical day, we will have breakfast between 7:30 and 8:00 a.m., be on the trail by 8:30 a.m. and hike till mid-late afternoon. This makes it a moderate-strenuous trip appealing to the experienced hiker, who is interested in sampling the rich cultural and natural history of Germany.

The terrain itself is not particularly difficult or strenuous. All hiking is on marked and maintained trails. Daily elevation gains and losses are only between 1,000 and 2,000 feet with mostly gentle to moderate grades. Steeper ascents or descents are pretty rare and if they occur they will be brief. It is possible to encounter muddy sections of trail, especially after prolonged rain fall.

On most days it is possible to skip or shorten the hike and reach the next town by public transportation or taxi. Please note that transportation for participants who wish to take a day off is not included in the trip price.

To enjoy this outing, all participants need to be fit, in good physical condition and health, and accustomed to hikes that last a full day. You should be able to comfortably walk at a pace of 2+ miles per hour and sustain this pace over the course of 5-6 hours without getting fatigued. Please check your abilities accordingly before considering this trip and contact the leader with any questions or concerns.

Equipment and Clothing

Germany has a typical northern climate. Weather in late May-early June is quite unpredictable; comparable to places such as the Pacific Northwest, New England, or southern Canada. Temperatures during the day can range from the upper 50s to the low 80s. Due to the length of our trip we can expect to experience both warm and cool days and sunshine as well as rain, which can be prolonged and heavy. Good raingear and layered clothing are mandatory.

For the hikes you will only need to carry a day pack that fits your lunches, snacks, water, and raingear. You will not need to carry a tent, sleeping bag, mattress, or cooking gear on this trip.

All participants need to wear sturdy, leather-type hiking boots with good ankle support, which have been well broken-in before the trip. The leader also strongly recommends the use of collapsible hiking poles, especially if you have experienced problems with your knees.

A detailed clothing and equipment list will be provided to all signed-up and approved participants before the tip.

References

Guidebooks:

• The official guidebook for the Franconia Trail is:
  Dietrich Hoellhuber, Der Frankenweg, Hans Carl Verlag, ISBN 3-418-00108-4 (currently only available in German).

Maps:

• Frankenweg: Vom Rennsteig zur Schwaebischen Alp, PUBLICPRESS - Die Karten mit der Sonne, 1:50,000, shows the whole Franconia Trail.
• Fritsch Wanderkarte: Naturpark Frankenwald, 1:50,000, shows the northern section of our trek.
• Fritsch Wanderkarte: Naturpark Fraenkische Schweiz Blatt Nord, 1:50,000, shows the central section of our trek.
• Fritsch Wanderkarte: Naturpark Fraenkische Schweiz Blatt Sued, 1:50,000, shows the southern section of our trek.

Maps and guidebooks can be most easily purchased at various book stores in Nuremberg.

Websites:

• www.frankenweg.de. (This is the official website for the Franconia Trail).
• http://www.tourismus.nuernberg.de.

Conservation

The Sierra Club is an environmentally focused entity. We are concerned about conservation and sustainability of resources, both locally and globally. Our work is accomplished by volunteers, aided by a salaried staff, encouraging grassroots involvement. Our outings seek to empower participants toward environmentally understanding parallel concerns at home and abroad.

One focus of conservation talks on our trip will be the use of natural resources, especially renewable energies, comparing Germany with the U.S. and other countries.

Germany was ridded of any wilderness area during the Middle Ages. The forests were almost entirely logged and the native beech, oak and pine trees got replanted with non-native spruce trees. This lead in many places to deprivation of the soil from important minerals and made the forests prone to beetles and other diseases. In the 1980s the forest service finally started realizing the unhealthy consequences of this monoculture foresting and since then tries to gradually reintroduce the native trees and plants.

Our trek starts at the former border between West and East Germany, which were separated by the “Death Zone,” a narrow corridor of mine fields, barbed wire and shooting machines for 30 years during the Cold War. As a consequence of being not used by humans a variety of otherwise endangered animals and plants were able to survive along the former Iron Curtain, which is now known as the Green Belt (http://www.greenbelteurope.eu/).

Trip Price

This trip requires a $200 per-person deposit. An additional payment of $300 per person is due six months prior to trip departure. International trip prices are subject to change and are based on double-occupancy or group accommodations as described above. Single rooms may not be available or may cost more than the listed price. If you have any questions regarding double occupancy, please contact the trip leader.

See the How to Apply for an Outing section for more details on registering for this trip and details about our Reservation and Cancellation Policy.

The payment of a deposit does not confirm you as a member on the trip. Participants must be approved by the trip leader. After signing up for this trip, you will be sent a confirmation packet containing approval materials (Participant Approval Questionnaire, Medical Form, Liability Release Form). Each applicant (including those on the waitlist) must fill out these forms and promptly mail them to the trip leader. The leader will review the approval materials and notify you of your acceptance in a timely manner.

The Sierra Club accurately and fairly budgets and prices our trips. However, unforeseen costs such as devaluation of the dollar compared to other currencies and fuel surcharges assessed by our international providers may necessitate adjustment in trip price. We will make every effort to mitigate and absorb these fees. If a price increase is necessary, however, you will have 14 days after announcement to cancel without penalty.

Staff

Leader:

Thomas Meissner was born in Nuremberg, Germany and lived there for 30 years. He has been hiking many times along the Franconia Trail and the areas nearby.

Since coming to the US in 1992, Thomas has been hiking, trekking and backpacking in the Sierra Nevada Mountains, the American and Canadian Rockies, the Southwest, the Appalachian Mountains, Hawaii and in New Zealand. This includes a through-hike of the John Muir Trail, and several large sections of the Appalachian Trail and Pacific Crest Trail. He has led more than 100 backpack trips for the Sierra Club in California and is certified as a Wilderness First Responder.

Thomas lives near Santa Rosa, California and works as scientist measuring weather and climate data on the Earth from satellite observations. He is fluent in both English and German and will of course share all his knowledge of local culture, history, cuisine, and beer selections with the group.

E-mail: meissner.thomas@sbcglobal.net

Assistant Leader:

Fred Weber looks forward to sharing his love of the beautiful scenery of Germany's Franconia region as well as the culture and history of the area with you. His conversational knowledge of German is an asset on this trip.

Fred has also led Sierra Club trips to Switzerland, Austria, Italy's Dolomites, New Zealand, Costa Rica, and in the Midwestern United States. He enjoys hiking, backpacking, orienteering, canoeing, skiing, and swimming. European history is a special interest of his.

E-mail: FredAWeber@Hotmail.com

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General Notes About Sierra Club Trips

• Carbon Offsets
• Electronic Devices
• Equipment
• How to Apply for a Trip
• Leader Gratuities
• Liability Release and Assumption of Risk
• Medical Issues
• Non-discrimination Statement
• Participant Approval
• Reservation and Cancellation Policy
• Seller of Travel Disclosure
• Travel Insurance
• Trip Feedback