The hilly, entertaining forest circuit combines special forest types, such as primeval forests on shady slopes, with magnificent castle ensembles, such as those in Atzelsberg. Halfway along the route, the tour also traverses the Rathsberg Heights and the region's unique geotope of the Rhaetolian sandstone escarpment there. Both the starting point in Bubenreuth and the destination in Atzelsberg offer excellent refreshment options in the local beer gardens.
The hike ends at the S-Bahn station Bubenreuth and offers attractive features in the old town center, such as historic half-timbered ensembles, the old village church of St. Joseph in a baroque style (1925), or the idyllic beer garden of the Mörsbergei from the 18th century. At the edge of the village, you reach the water protection area and wind along agricultural paths and trails past meadows, ponds, and damp hollows before entering the forest. Shortly before, an information board explains the Flood protection concept for Bubenreuth by dam structures – some of whose dams have served as hiking trails up to this point. The initial mixed pine forest leads you on forest paths ever deeper into the "wilderness“ – the nature reserve of the same name runs just south of the actual hiking trail. The tree population transforms into a mixed beech forest, and the tour climbs steeply uphill in parts, accompanied by streams, fallen deadwood, and ravine vegetation. The play of light in the foliage, the climbing ivy on the centuries-old deciduous trees, and the flowering ground cover on the slope edge are atmospheric. Once at the top, the route emerges from the forest onto the hills of Atzelsberg – here, it's a wonderful place to stop for a drink in the beer garden of the castle inn, a new sandstone building from the 19th century, next to the Castle including the castle garden, which was rebuilt by Conradt von Seutter from 1705. With a series of small farmhouses from the 19th century behind it, the tour climbs the plateau of the Rathsberg and offers not only flowers to pick yourself, but above all a panoramic view in almost all directions, all the way to Franconian Switzerland. Numerous benches invite you to sit and relax, and the trail names "Höhenweg," "Am Rundblick," and "Atzelsberger Steige" also indicate this. Agricultural paths zigzag through the cultivated landscape of fields and meadows, giving way to forest paths that run along the edge between the hill and the forest slope, alongside old oak trees. With the Erlanger Meilwald forest on the left, you pass the hiking car park and the football field, and the main road behind the Rathsberg lies; interesting information about the place can already be found on a field sign. On steep paths downhill, the special geology of the region can be admired: around Rathsberg, the strata of the Rhaetolian Sandstone particularly striking. Their decay has led to the formation of many small hills and valleys, which the hiking trail skirts or crosses. Bischofsmeilwald A wide forest path continues. If you are not afraid of a challenging climb, you can take a detour to the Duel memorial stone in memory of Karl Rubner from 1841. From here, it's not far to Rathsberg Castle, dating from 1622, with its former castle garden. Various forest paths lead to a fitness station and a forest kindergarten with a bee house. The trail returns to Bubenreuth via the Church of the Visitation of Mary, offering the opportunity to explore the southern violin-making settlement on a detour.
Discover the route yourself on komoot.