Roetelsee trail (Ch04)

Popular circular hiking trail in the Upper Bavarian Forest Nature Park, Bavaria. The trail starts at the car park in Laichstätt. You walk towards the pond area with the Laichstätt pond and the small and large Rötelsee ponds. This is the centrepiece of the "Regentalaue" nature reserve. The approximately 40-hectare expanse of water, together with the River Regen and the floodplain meadows, forms an extremely valuable habitat for flora and fauna: over 500 different plant species are native to the area. As an important resting and breeding site, the Regental floodplain has been on the EU list of European bird sanctuaries since 1988. After observing nature in the pond area, follow a meadow path to the road, which you stay on for a short distance until the path branches off into a field path again. At the next signpost, the route changes to the right. Passing through a wooded area, you come to species-rich wet meadows with a few small ponds. You then have a wonderful view of Thierlstein Castle. However, the path branches off to the right at the edge of the nature reserve towards Laichstätt. You soon reach the starting point. Highlights of the hike: - Laichstätt pond - Small and large Rötelsee ponds - Regental floodplain nature reserve - Rare animal, plant and bird species - View of Thierlstein Castle