Schmidgaden: Cycling, Hiking and Local Traditions

Schmidgaden: cycling route, hike and local traditions

Schmidgaden offers several specific ways to plan your trip: the 15-kilometre “Around Trisching” cycling tour, a short hike to St. Magdalene’s Chapel, local traditions and a summer festival.

Cycling tour and hike in the municipality

The “Around Trisching” cycling tour starts in Schmidgaden, is 15 km long and is described as flat. The route also includes around 300 m of sections where you have to push your bike. Factor this section into your plans and check local trail conditions before setting off.

If the landscape influences your choice, Trisching is the specific place to consider: it lies in the foothills of the Upper Palatinate Forest and is a starting point for exploring the Magdalenental landscape conservation area.

A short hike in the municipality leads from the car park to Grimmerthal, initially following the valley floor of the Schwärzerbach stream and reaching the small St. Magdalene’s Chapel after about one kilometre. Check local conditions before setting off. When comparing distances, note the reference point: 15 km is the total length of the cycling tour; on the hike, you reach the chapel after about one kilometre.

Maypole tradition and parish festival

The Maypole tradition is celebrated in Schmidgaden, Trisching, Rottendorf and Gösselsdorf; the maypole is erected in the village centre on the eve of 1 May. The parish festival takes place every summer in the parish garden next to the parish centre. The events fall at different times of year: the maypole is erected on the eve of 1 May, while the parish festival takes place annually in summer. Check local dates for the parish festival before your trip.

Schwandorf as the wider regional setting

The Schwandorf district is a holiday destination in Bavaria’s Upper Palatinate Forest. The Upper Palatinate Lake District in Schwandorf district is a region shaped by water and diverse landscapes. The Wald- und Heidelandschaft nature reserve is also part of the region’s natural heritage: it provides a valuable refuge for species that cannot survive in sites with denser vegetation and more nutrient-rich soils. The gneiss at Hochfels in Schwandorf district was included in Bavaria’s list of the 100 most beautiful geotopes. The region’s natural features differ: the lake district is shaped by water, while the Wald- und Heidelandschaft provides a refuge for species; the gneiss at Hochfels adds a geological point of interest.

Another regional cycling option is the Weiher cycling route: it is around 9 km long, signposted throughout in both directions, connects Schwandorf with Lake Murner and passes through the Charlottenhofer Weiher nature reserve. The BAXI Museum Line 8402 operates in Schwandorf district for travel to the Upper Palatinate Open-Air Museum. Check connections before you travel.

Discover more destinations: Altendorf, Oberviechtach, Stulln, Nittenau, Nabburg, Bruck In Der Oberpfalz, Burglengenfeld, Pfreimd.

Go to the main travel overview: Schwandorf.