Markgrafenweg

The Margraves' Trail

Hiking where the margraves once resided - from Kulmbach to Bayreuth

When the Franconian line of the Zollern dynasty died out in 1603, the margraves of the Brandenburg line no longer resided in Kulmbach and moved their residence to Bayreuth. The Margrave Trail is intended to keep the memory of this historical event alive. Significant end points of this hike are the Plassenburg in the large district town of Kulmbach, the old Meranier fortress on the steep mountain spur that still characterizes the town today, and the festival hall on the "Green Hill" in the Wagner city of Bayreuth, the seat of the government of Upper Franconia, whose Richard Wagner Festival makes the city famous worldwide.

The Margraves' Trail begins in the barracks courtyard of the Plassenburg. Coming from the train station, we can take the "Plassenburg Express" from the central parking lot at the Stadthalle. It runs every 30 minutes during the day (groups should register under 09221/920340!). The footpath is signposted several times from the market square and town hall.

From Kulmbach to Waldau

We leave the barracks courtyard through the eastern castle gate. On the left, we see the remains of the fortifications of the High Bastion, which were left after Napoleon ordered them to be dismantled in 1806. We soon turn right onto a shady slope path into the beech forest, which descends steeply to the Höllgrund. After just under 1000 m, we reach the Sommerrangenhütte on a natural path. The slope path leads us through light mixed forest to the first house in Maierhof - past the former excursion destination "Waldschlösschen" - and soon to the local road, which we cross.

We walk through Tennach, keep left there and then walk along a field path with beautiful views to the small parking lot at the beginning of the coniferous forest. We turn sharp right, walk downhill for approx. 500 m, turn left, follow another forest path to a spider trail and turn left there. On an incline, we turn right and walk on near-natural paths on the lower slope through a coniferous forest, cross a forest path after some time and continue through the forest, initially quite steeply, then more gently uphill, until our path finally turns right downhill to the Lindau-Leuchau road.

We cross it and, at the fork between the two paths, climb the Rauhen Berg (464 m) on a path in the forest, initially short and steep, then a comfortable forest path further slightly uphill, and after about 750 m we reach the top with a charming view to the south. We come to a field path and follow it in a left-hand bend to the Schwingen-Lindau road, which we cross, continuing to enjoy impressive views.

We walk along the field path in the open to the elevated reservoir by the forest, then initially very steeply, soon moderately ascending, up the slope of the Hohenberg (484 m). We walk on very pleasant paths and tracks through the sparse pine forest to a forest path. We turn left and then follow a level path through the forest. After the end of the forest, we cross the A 70 (Kulmbach-Bamberg) straight ahead to a row of trees with mighty oaks. Through the hollow path, we reach Waldau at the fire station.

From Waldau to Bayreuth

At the end of the village, we turn right onto Zoltmühlenweg and walk along an old road through the meadows, accompanied by beautiful views. At the end of the paddock, we turn right, walk along the fence and a pond to the field path and follow it to Pechgraben. Views along the way: Pechgraben meadows, the street village in front, Hohenberg (484 m) looking back on the left, Tierleite on the right.

We walk in Pechgraben - at the fire station briefly turn left along the road and immediately right again (Oberkeil) - through the Gräfentaler meadows to a track (view of the Ramsenthaler mountain range), which leads us along the sand pits and the first biotopes (abandoned sand pits). In a bend to the right (watch out!), we leave the road to the right to a beautiful path that leads us through sparse pine forests with changing forest sections along the Fürstenleithe and past abandoned quarries to Theta.

We follow the road through the village to the left uphill to the forest. We turn right and hike on easy forest paths and trails in a straight main direction close to the edge of the forest and briefly along the edge. At times we have to watch out not only for roots on the ground but also for forks. We take a forest path briefly to the left, soon turn right again onto a path and soon come to a meadow. We walk downhill along the edge to the forest and reach the Cottenbach stream at the foot of the Hohe Warte, walking steadily downhill on paths and beautiful trails in the forest.

We cross the stream and walk steadily uphill on the predominantly pine-covered slope to the Siegessäule on the Hohe Warte (463 m). In the lower half, our path is partly washed out, not very wide and quite steep. Then it climbs more leisurely, becoming wider and comfortable. After the view over the Bayreuth countryside, we walk down a forest path to a road and take it to the right downhill to the "Wagnerwiese", which is very busy during the festival, to the edge of the town "An der Bürgerreuth" and to the restaurant of the same name in the Wagner town of Bayreuth - and straight on, after about 500 m, to the festival hall on the Green Hill.

You can easily reach the station by city bus or on foot:

Follow Siegfried-Wagner-Allee and then Bürgerreuther Straße in a straight line (together with the Nortwaldweg and Jakobusweg).