Pottenstein: Devil’s Cave, Castle and Hiking Tours

Pottenstein offers several reasons to stay: the Devil’s Cave and two full-day hikes come with specific time estimates, the castle and old town add historical highlights, and the Adventure Rock has two summer toboggan runs. When looking for a hotel in Pottenstein, it is therefore worth first considering which activities will shape your daily schedule. Duration estimates are available for hikes and cave tours; other destinations add to the range of things to do. Comparing the times directly, a cave tour lasting 45 to 60 minutes takes considerably less time than either of the two full-day hikes.

Devil’s Cave: Tours and Time Required

The Devil’s Cave can only be visited as part of a guided tour. A tour lasts 45 to 60 minutes; the cave is well developed and easy to walk through, although it has some steps. It is about 3,000 metres long in total, and roughly half of it is open to the public on guided tours. Stalactite formations and a complete cave bear skeleton are among the highlights inside. The total length and tour duration answer different planning questions: the former describes the cave, while the latter indicates how much time to allow for a visit. From April to September, the special tour “Devil’s Cave Exclusive,” featuring geological commentary, takes place at 5 p.m. on the last Friday of each month. If you are planning your trip around this tour, check the dates in advance.

Comparing Two Hikes

Two hikes that start and end in Pottenstein can be compared by length and duration. The official full-day hike “Valley and Heights Tour” passes Schöngrundsee, the Devil’s Cave, Schüttersmühle, the Klumpertal valley, Kühlenfels, Kirchenbirkig and Weidenloh before returning to Pottenstein; it is about 16 kilometres long and takes approximately four hours. The hike “To the Roof of Franconian Switzerland” runs from Pottenstein via Haselbrunn, Hohenmirsberg, Püttlach, Oberhauenstein and the Upper Püttlach Valley before returning to Pottenstein. It is about 18 kilometres long and takes approximately five and a half hours. Based on these approximate figures, the second hike is about two kilometres longer and takes roughly an hour and a half more.

Castle and Historic Old Town

Pottenstein Castle, more than 1,000 years old, is a local landmark and houses a castle museum. It was built on a mighty dolomite rock. The historic old town lies within the town walls and is characterised by Franconian half-timbered houses.

Toboggan Runs and Waterfront Destinations

The Pottenstein Adventure Rock has two toboggan runs: the 1,160-metre-long Frankenrodel, which runs in a stainless-steel trough, and the Frankenbob, which is ready to operate in all weather. Pottenstein’s Felsenbad is one of the oldest outdoor swimming pools in Germany. It has a swimming area and an idyllic beer garden. Swimming and fishing are not permitted at Schöngrundsee, however; there is a free car park directly by the lake. You can take a pedal boat out on Schöngrundsee in the Weihersbachtal valley. If you plan to take a boat trip, check in advance whether it is available on the day of your visit.

Discover more destinations: Mehlmeisel, Waischenfeld, Hummeltal, Bad Berneck Im Fichtelgebirge, Heinersreuth, Eckersdorf, Creußen, Ahorntal.

View the overview of the wider area: Bayreuth.