Baierweg (Fernwanderweg)

Varied long-distance hiking trail in the Bavarian Forest Nature Park, Bavaria. The Baierweg begins in Straubing and initially leads through the Danube valley towards the Bogenberg. Behind the town of Bogen, it swings eastwards towards the mountains of the Bavarian Forest, which you reach at Hofdorf: here you climb the first mountain to the Windberg monastery. The route continues along the Bogenbach valley via Steinberg and Neukirchen to Obermühlbach. The first steeper ascent leads via the Weiße Marter pilgrimage chapel to Sankt Englmar. From Sankt Englmar, the route continues steadily up and down via Kollnburg, Viechtach and Pirka to Höllensteinsee. Here there is another steep ascent to conquer. You reach a ridge that leads over the Ludwigsturm to Kötzting. After Kötzting, you can climb the Haidstein past the 1000-year-old Wolfram lime tree in Ried. After visiting the small church, the route descends just as steeply to Liebenstein, from where you reach Rimbach via gentle hills. The route from Rimbach to Neukirchen b. Heiligen Blut leads over the wooded ridge of the Hohenbogen (steep ascent and descent at the beginning and end of the stage). At the pilgrimage church in Neukirchen, you climb up to St Anna's Chapel. The route then joins the East Bavarian Way of St James via Brünst to Eschlkam. After Großaign, the Chamb is crossed and after Seugenhof, a small St James' Chapel in the forest awaits hikers. The village of Všeruby (Neumarkt) is reached shortly after the border crossing. Continue along the pond through forests and meadows to Kdyně (Neugedein). This is followed by a steep climb to the summit of Koráb, where the hike continues over a wooded ridge with several ruins of once mighty castles. After the ruins on Rýzmberk (Giant Mountain), you reach Domažlice (Taus) with its magnificent town square and 16th-century arcades after several Bohemian settlements. From Domazlice, the capital of the Czech tribe of the Chods, you hike up to the "Vesela hora", where the pilgrimage church in honour of St. Lawrence (Vavrinec) stands. Passing small ponds and lakes, you reach the former tourist centre Babylon, whose name is the result of a verbal horn of "Baba's lom", a sand pit of Baba. You finally reach Ceská Kubice on a beautiful forest path. From here it is not far to the Bavarian-Bohemian border, where you cross the border on an ancient path. The scenic high road takes you down to Furth im Wald, where the Baierweg ends. The Baierweg is divided into 7 stages, but can also be planned individually according to personal requirements. The trail can be started anywhere, as can the direction of travel. Highlights of the hike: - Windberg Monastery - Great views over the Bavarian Forest - Chamb - several pilgrimage churches - Furth in the forest