Erdgeschichte erwandern

This hiking trail runs along a geological nature trail of the Geopark Bayern- Böhmen and offers interesting insights into the history of the earth and the formation of the landscape with three information boards alongside an enchanting natural landscape.

The trail begins in Plankenfels opposite the "Schwarzer Ritter" inn and leads along the former railroad line into the Lochau valley, through which the Lochau stream flows idyllically. The hike through the quiet Lochautal valley with its many irrigation weirs opens up a unique natural environment. After about 2.5 kilometers on a relatively flat path over meadows and through forests, we leave the steeply ascending path (blue line), cross the Lochau and hike uphill over a meadow to the village of Meuschlitz.

From here, you can make a detour (an additional 2 kilometers in total) to the Wachstein, where you will also find an information board for the Geopark Bayern-Böhmen.

From Meuschlitz, the trail continues on a small tarred road to the village of Plankenstein. Immediately after the first houses, the path leads us right up to the Plankenstein rock massif. We are rewarded with a magnificent panoramic view of the hills of Franconian Switzerland. A strategically important castle stood here in the 13th century; a document from 1217 names a Counradus liber de Blanchenstein. There is nothing left of it today, as the ruins were also used as a quarry. From here, the route leads downhill back to the starting point.

Parking: Plankenfels hiking parking lot opposite the Schwarzer Ritter inn, Bayreuther Straße

Marking: Geopark Bayern-Böhmen or blue line to the Meuschlitz junction, green dot from Meuschlitz to Plankenfels

Rest stops in Plankenfels: Goldenes Lamm, Schwarzer Ritter