Prinz-Luitpold-Weg HRW 4

From the parking lot at the Schützenhaus, we walk along Hochstraße, Hauptstraße, Siegfriedstraße and Schulstraße to the indoor swimming pool, where we leave the town in a northerly direction. Here, we are already surprised by a wide view as we walk along a field path and then along a forest path moderately downhill into the upper Zegastgrund. We should stop briefly at a wetland biotope with a large pond worth seeing, the former Schwarzenbach outdoor pool.

Crossing the B 173, we reach a flat ridge on a field path and, after the junction with the Straßdorf-Bernstein road, turn left to Lerchenhügel. The place used to be called Affennest, but had nothing to do with the cute climbing animals. The name can be interpreted in several ways.

We turn into Lerchenhügel, but keep left after just a few meters and walk along a village road to the nearby end of the village, then straight down into the forest to the neighbouring village of Sorg. Via the village road to the right and a short, steep descent to the left down to the village pond, we reach the road to Thiemitz, cross it and reach the heights via a pleasant, slightly ascending field path. Here there are beautiful views back and to the heights above Schnaid.

Now turn left along a field path, over the heights and down to Räumlas. On the left, a sandstone crypt chapel (not accessible!) can be seen some distance away, which was built in 1847 by the wealthy hammer mill owner Johann Will, who lived in the village with his wife Katharina and ran an iron hammer in Thiemitz. Passing the former inn on the left, we take a pleasant path up the slope to the Straßdorf-Bernstein road and enjoy the impressive view and the colorful flora on the rough grassland along the way.

Crossing the road, we follow a forest path straight down into the valley floor to some ponds, where we cross the valley floor to the left and pass the Wolfnhaus through the forest on a path to reach the top. Here we turn right, enjoy the wonderful view of the Rodachrangen with the double summit (716/717 m) and the wooded heights and continue along the edge of the forest. Before the path dips back into the forest, we recommend taking a break to enjoy the impressive view of the Döbraberg, which appears imposing in size from here.

We continue on and, after a sharp bend to the left in the forest, take a dirt track down to Gottsmannsgrün, with a beautiful view of the Löhmar plateau opposite. In Gottsmannsgrün, we cross under the B 173. After the underpass (B 173), we walk to the right through the forest at the foot of the mountain until a beautiful view of Schönbrunn opens up at the edge of the forest. We walk into the village and then turn left along the local road up to the hill, where a short detour to the left to a viewpoint is recommended before crossing the road to Löhmar.

We now continue along the Schönbrunner Weg to Oberschwarzenstein. Note: If you don't want to hike the Prinz-Luitpold-Weg in one stretch, you can take a break here and reach Schwarzenbach after approx. 1.5 to 2 km via the Reitzensteinweg (DÖ 34) or the Panoramaweg (DÖ 37).

The Prinz-Luitpold-Weg now leads uphill to the right in the village, where it initially turns left after the last house, but then turns right again and leads steeply downhill. Before this last turn-off, however, a short detour to the Schlossberg with the Schwamma is highly recommended. To reach it, first continue downhill in a left-hand bend and climb the Schlossberg via a wooden staircase with many steps. On the former site of the castle, you can enjoy a beautiful view of the Wild Rodach valley.

At the aforementioned junction, we then walk steeply downhill for approx. 400 m to the valley road. We follow this road to the right and cross it at the Rauschenhammermühle mill. We walk through the company premises (take care!) and reach the valley road to the Bischofsmühle. This leads us to the former rafting pond at the Bischofsmühle, where an information board on the restored dam reminds us of the work of the raftsmen in days gone by. If we continue along the valley road here, we reach the Bischofsmühle inn after around 250 m.

However, our path leads over the dam and along the water on the other side of the valley until we reach a narrow cut in the wooded slope. We climb upwards, come to a staircase and climb 162 steps up to the castle stables, where a plaque provides information about Radekke Castle, which is steeped in history. A short detour leads to a viewpoint above the former moat. If you want to save yourself the effort of climbing the steep steps, continue on a narrow path in a straight main direction before the start of the steps and later comfortably reach the Burgstall from above on a narrow tarred road.

The route now climbs slightly uphill to Rodeck on a narrow farm track. Before the end of the village, we turn right through the fields to the forest and walk moderately uphill along the edge of the forest. Before this path also turns right into the forest, there is a charming view back over the Rodeck plateau and the western Franconian Forest. Now it is about 1 km on various, always comfortable paths through the forest, over forest and woodland paths as well as narrow paths (follow the markings!), past a forest hut and a covered seating area with a view of the Fichtelgebirge, until the forest thins out and we reach the hut of the Frankenwaldverein of the Döbra local group.

Now it goes over the Döbra-Rodeck road, past the sports home of SV Döbra and to the left over a large hiking parking lot. Here, too, there is a wide view of the Fichtelgebirge and Vogtland. We now walk towards Döbraberg on a much-used wide dirt track with a view of the radar dome. After the crossroads at the beginning of the forest, we continue straight uphill and then turn left to the so-called "Oberer Rundweg", where we are repeatedly offered a beautiful view of the Fichtelgebirge. Before the former ski slope (right-hand bend of the path), we keep left and follow a forest path diagonally downhill to the mountain guard hut. Here we can enjoy the stunning view to the west, which on a clear day stretches as far as the Veste Coburg, the Gleichberge and even the Rhön.

After a sharp turn to the right, we now have to climb steeply up the former ski slope to the summit of the Döbraberg (794 m) and the Prinz-Luitpold tower. We then walk past the radar station and down the road to Döbra, where we come across the first houses in the village after one kilometer. On the way, there is a magnificent view of the beautifully landscaped surroundings and the Vogtland and Fichtelgebirge mountains in the background. If you don't want to stop for a bite to eat, turn sharp left uphill. On a wide road, later on a pleasant grassy path, we come to a beautiful viewpoint at the Panoramahütte. From here, the Culmitz valley with the former district town of Naila lies at the hiker's feet, so to speak. On forest and field paths, which are always easy to walk on, we continue straight ahead in the forest, then turn right down to Kleindöbra. Here, the hiking trail leads us past the houses of Kleindöbra to the outskirts of Schwarzenbach and then back to the starting point via Schützenstraße.