Eschenbach i.d.OPf.: Churches, Garden and Pond Landscape

Eschenbach i.d.OPf. combines church and town history with the garden at Taubnschuster and trails through the pond landscape. If you are looking for hotels in Eschenbach i.d.OPf., these varied interests can help you plan your stay: Would you like to see historic buildings, plan a garden visit, or set aside time for hiking trails in the surrounding area? The following stops distinguish between sights in town and destinations nearby.

Churches and Town History

The Bergkirche Maria Hilf marks the western end of Eschenbach’s town square. Its imposing facade features a columned portal and a tall curvilinear gable; the tower was renovated in 1906. Inside, a spacious, bright hall and a narrower chancel create a clear sequence of spaces. Both areas are covered by shallow barrel vaults. Beneath the gallery, a Neoclassical screen offers a view of the dark altar wall.

Other historic buildings represent different periods. The Gothic Catholic parish church of St. Laurentius was built around 1440. The Late Gothic town hall dates from 1570, and the historic Malzhaus on the town square was restored in 2007. The Mariensäule in Eschenbach dates from 1720. The Protestant Kreuzkirche, built in 1962, stands in the northern part of town. Remnants of the town wall can also still be seen in the lower old town. Together, these places offer various starting points for exploring architectural and town history, though they do not all belong to the same period.

Garden, Museum and Events

The garden at Taubnschuster has the character of a traditional cottage garden, where herbs, vegetables and flowers are grown. In the medicinal herb garden, native medicinal plants are labeled with their species and medicinal uses. As you walk around, you can take in the different areas of plants and their labels. From the upper terrace of the Taubnschuster Garden, the view stretches across the garden to the Kalvarienberg district and the Kreuzkirche.

Visitors to the Beim Taubnschuster Museum can also take the opportunity to visit the garden during the summer months. Opening hours for the Beim Taubnschuster Museum are listed as Sundays from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m.; check these before your visit. The annual program at the Ackerbürgerhaus Beim Taubnschuster includes an Advent market on the first Sunday of Advent featuring local crafts, as well as jazz evenings and folk music gatherings in the courtyard. If you are planning to attend an event, check the dates in advance.

Hiking Trails and Ponds Nearby

Around Eschenbach, marked hiking trails offer short and longer routes, with views of the pond landscape and its flora and fauna. The range of trail lengths provides a practical guide when deciding how much time to set aside for a hike. One specific route is the Nature Experience Rußweiher Area tour, which goes around the Großer Rußweiher and the Rußlohweiher.

Nearby is the 140-hectare Vogelfreistätte Großer Rußweiher nature reserve. A road-accessible dam separates it from the recreational lake. West of Eschenbach, the spacious municipal outdoor swimming pool is located at the bathing lake Kleiner Rußweiher. These destinations are distinct from the town center and add further places to visit nearby to the trails and sights in Eschenbach.

The Holzweg forest adventure trail is located near the B 470 by Eschenbach. Its stops include a walk-in birdhouse, a “music school,” sound houses, a maze, a pond with a ferry, and a playground. If you plan to take the ferry, check the timetable in advance. This lets you choose between the hiking trails, the route around the Rußweiher ponds, and the adventure trail’s stops based on your interests.

Discover More Destinations

Discover more destinations: Neustadt Am Kulm, Schirmitz, Grafenwöhr, Windischeschenbach, Weiherhammer, Kirchendemenreuth, Vorbach, Leuchtenberg.

For the overview of the wider region: Neustadt An Der Waldnaab.