The grand tour through the southern Markwald forest traverses the historic state forest between the Erlangen district of Dechsendorf and the village of Möhrendorf. Enchanted chains of ponds, changing forest landscapes, and the finish line along the Main-Danube Canal are the hallmarks of the hike. The route offers historical and technological highlights such as the Rote Marter (Red Marten) and the nearby Erlangen Lock, crosses the romantic village center of Kleinseebach with its cozy beer garden, and stops at natural treasures such as the Endsee (End Lake) in the Dechsendorfer Weiher recreation area.
The “Great Bishop’s Pond” – better known as Dechsendorfer Pond – with the adjacent moor pond “Endsee", a valuable fauna and flora habitat, is the starting point of the large Markwald circuit. The protected forest area is characterized by large, dry "Steckeles forests", which are used for forestry, and in many places tempting cranberries and blueberries. The light pine forests are an important habitat for typical species such as the nightjar, the woodlark, and the honey buzzard. Endangered woodpecker species are also present, and there are valuable habitats for the hazel grouse and the little owl. Along wide, gravel forest roads, the route offers rest areas on wayside benches, a forest hut for shelter, and information on sustainable forestry in the Markwald. The first information board is located on a former smelting site from prehistoric and early historical times and the Middle Ages - as well as other, today mostly invisible Archaeological monuments like ancient burial sites with grave mounds are imperceptibly touched on the route. After crossing the water protection area, the former race track, along which messages were transmitted, reaches the historic Red Martyrdom with a (new) stone bench. Martens and resting stones served as religious monuments, but also as waymarks or for placing loads. Past a forest kindergarten, silver fir plantations and Friedelberg Hut, hilly forest paths lead past small forest pools, moist stream vegetation and fallen root plates to the enchanted Black PondWith a wide view of the agricultural landscape, the tour reaches KleinseebachThe stag beetle is found in this area – a species of great importance and protected throughout Europe. On numerous steps through the old cellar carved into the sandstone, "Hollow“ and a natural, old tree population you descend into the historic town center. There, you can rest at the 18th-century Schuh Inn with its beer garden, buy regional products at the Kleinseebach farm shop, or pick up reading material from the book exchange. Passing a war memorial, an old wave tree from the Wässerwiesen waterwheel, and a wild bee hotel, the path crosses the Seebach and finally reaches the Main-Danube Canal. You walk straight along the dam past Möhrendorf until you reach the barrages leaves the canal. In the distance, the Erlangen Lock on the horizon – a technical structure for shipping. The last section of the tour begins at the forest car park: It runs through the water protection area in Steckeleswald before leaving the forest road and entering a narrow forest path. This leads to the Oberndorf and Giesbethweihern and offers numerous opportunities to observe waterfowl. The tour ends below the Hinterer Giesberg – and the Dechsendorfer Pond to relax, feast or go pedal boating.
Discover the route yourself with komoot.
