The region around the city of Hof has a lot to offer. Whether swimming trips to the numerous lakes, hiking or biking tours through the Fichtelgebirge and Franconian Forest or shopping trips in the Saale city. Around Hof University, everyone really gets their money’s worth.
Reason enough for Campuls.digital to ask the professors at the university what their favorite places are in the region. We have summarized the 5 best tips.
1. Prof. Dr.-Ing. Dietmar Wolff and Prof. Dr.-Ing. Claus-Ekkehard Koukal: Franconian Switzerland
Franconian Switzerland covers the districts of Bamberg, Bayreuth, Forchheim, Kulmbach and Erlangen-Höchstadt. Due to its characteristic mountain and hilly landscape and the numerous caves, Franconian Switzerland is a popular destination for many tourists. With 6,500 routes, it is also one of the best developed climbing areas in the world.
One of my favorite places in Upper Franconia is the town of Pottenstein, as probably the most typical representative of so many great places in Franconian Switzerland.”
Prof. Dr.-Ing. Dietmar Wolff
The town of Pottenstein is located in the district of Bayreuth, currently has about 5,000 inhabitants and is very popular with excursionists, especially because of its extensive nature and leisure activities
The Teufelshöhle (Devil’s Cave), a dripstone cave that can be entered over a length of 1.5 km and is one of the best-known and largest caves in Germany, is certainly worthy of mention here. Other popular destinations are the rock pool, the summer toboggan run and the climbing park. On top of that, you have a beautiful view over the city and Franconian Switzerland from the numerous rocks.
For me, too, Franconian Switzerland is one of the most beautiful destinations in Upper Franconia – especially the area around Tüchersfeld.”
Prof. Dr.-Ing. Claus-Ekkehard Koukal
The small village of Tüchersfeld belongs to the town of Pottenstein, is considered a symbol of Franconian Switzerland and is even depicted on a German Post Office stamp. The special thing here are the rock formations rising into the air on which old half-timbered houses stand, which seem to be glued to the rocks
Further excursion tips in Franconian Switzerland can be found here: www.fraenkische-schweiz.com
2. Prof. Dr.-Ing. Claus-Ekkehard Koukal and Prof. Oliver Lottes: Franconian Forest and Fichtel Mountains
No matter if in summer or in winter. The Franconian Forest and the Fichtel Mountains are probably the best-known and most popular destinations for hikers and cyclists. Both low mountain ranges are in the immediate vicinity of the city of Hof. A visit is a must for all nature lovers.
My favorite place in winter is the nature in the Hofer Land, Frankenwald and Fichtelgebirge. If there is sufficient snow cover, you can enjoy the nature of Upper Franconia in an uncomplicated way during a quite strenuous snowshoe hike – consideration for the fauna is of course a prerequisite!”
Prof. Oliver Lottes
But also in summer the mountainous landscape of Fichtelgebirge and Frankenwald fascinates with impressive routes.
My favorite excursion destination in the Franconian Forest is the Hell Hiking Trail, which starts in Hell!”
Prof. Dr.-Ing. Claus-Ekkehard Koukal
Even if the name “Hell” seems a bit daunting at first – don’t worry, the hiking trail through the Hell Valley is anything but
On a 30-kilometer-long route, you can explore, from Hölle (town of Naila in the district of Hof) to Blechschmidtenhammer (Lichtenberg Lkr. Hof), the romantic Höllental valley along the river Selbitz and the diabase rocks on the left and right – with a great view of the Lichtenberg castle ruins.
Here are more excursion tips in the Fichtelgebirge and Franconian Forest: www.fichtelgebirge.bayern and www.frankenwald-tourismus.de.
3. Prof. Dr.-Ing. Claus-Ekkehard Koukal: German Steam Locomotive Museum Neuenmark
If you prefer a little less movement, but a little more history, you should pay a visit to the railroad village Neuenmarkt (Lkr. Kulmbach).
Another favorite place of mine in Upper Franconia is the German Steam Locomotive Museum in Neuenmarkt. Here you can learn not only about the history of the railroad village, but also about the fascinating technology of steam locomotives.”
Prof. Dr.-Ing. Claus-Ekkehard Koukal
At the German Steam Locomotive Museum, interested visitors can not only marvel at numerous steam locomotives, also known as “black giants.”
In various exhibitions, visitors also learn more about the inclined plane, the oldest steep ramp in Europe with pure locomotive operation and life in the originally small settlement of Neuenmarkt, which became an up-and-coming town in the course of industrialization in the 19th century.
Further information about the German Steam Locomotive Museum can be found here: www.dampflokmuseum.de
4. Prof. Dr. Christine Falkenreck and Prof. Dr.-Ing. Dietmar Wolff: Lake Fichtelsee and Lake Untreusee
It’s summer and that also means that jumping into the cool water is a must for all water rats. Of course, Hof and its surroundings are not lacking when it comes to lakes.
One of my absolute favorite places in the region is definitely the Hof Untreusee.”
Prof. Dr. Christine Falkenreck
The two-kilometer-long and 700-meter-wide lake has an area of approximately 600,000 square meters. It gets its quite special name from the Untreubach stream that feeds it
But not only all bathing fans, sun worshippers and water sports enthusiasts get their money’s worth here. Integrated into the Untreusee recreation area are also a climbing park, a basketball court, a beach volleyball court, barbecue areas, Germany’s only walkable labyrinth and a miniature golf course.
More information about the Hofer Untreusse can be found here: www.untreusee-hof.de
In the Fichtelgebirge, between Ochsenkopf and Schneeberg, in the municipality of Fichtelberg (district of Bayreuth) is another lake that is absolutely worth a trip.
Another favorite place of mine is the Fichtelsee. The reason: this lake always offers new natural scenarios in the most beautiful and amazing colors.”
Prof. Dr.-Ing. Dietmar Wolff
Lake Fichtelsee is an approximately 10.5-hectare man-made reservoir and a popular local recreation area
In addition to a sunbathing lawn, children’s playground and various sports areas, it is also surrounded by many hiking and biking trails due to its location in the middle of the Fichtel Mountains.
Even more interesting facts about the Fichtelsee and the town of Fichtelberg can be found here: www.fichtelberg.de
5. Prof. Dr. Michael Nase and Prof. Dr. Christine Falkenreck: Saalestadt Hof
Of course, the university town of Hof also has a lot to offer, especially in terms of leisure activities.
My favorite place in the region is Ludwigstraße in Hof. Here you can find nice little shops like “Schreib+Spiel” or the “Buchhandlung Kleinschmidt” as well as various restaurants and cafés like the “Season” or the “Jean-Paul-Café”. Whenever I’m in Hof with my family, a walk through the beautiful Ludwigstraße is part of it.”
Prof. Dr. Michael Nase
For the Saale city of Hof is a real place of enjoyment, and it owes this, among other things, to the original Hof beef sausage and Hof beer. Both are protected geographical indications and taste particularly good now in summer, in the city’s numerous beer gardens.
Meinels Bas beer garden is also one of my favorite places around Hof University, especially in the warmer months.”
Prof. Dr. Christine Falkenreck
We at Campuls.digital have already summarized even more leisure tips in and around Hof for you here.
Our Campuls.digital Top 10 of the best excursion destinations around Hof can be found here.
