Germany Trip Plan:
Fichtelgebirge, world-famous porcelain, historical towns and the great outdoors

Pilgrimage-Church Maria Hilf in Fuchsmühl, GNU, author W.J.Pilsak
[ source: Wikipedia]

Day 1: Arrival

Your new home from home is the ideal starting point for all kind of excursions throughout the year. Familiarize yourself with your new surroundings after you moved in your nice, fully equipped holiday apartment currently available in Fuchsmühl or Marktredwitz. You will find plenty of shopping opportunities, cafes and restaurants with local and international cuisine.

Selb, author Zipacna1
[ source: Wikipedia]

Day 2: Selb - Porzellanikon

This beautiful town is situated next to the Czech border and became well-known for being home to many world famous porcelain manufacturers. The great fire of the 18th March 1856, which left over 3000 people homeless, marked a turning point in the history of the town. When one year later Lorenz Hutschenreuther founded the first porcelain factory, he gave the town a new economic future. The porcelain industry dominated the economic structure of Selb until the early nineties of the last century. Companies such as Hutschenreuther, Rosenthal and Heinrich shared nearly 90% of the German porcelain production. Admire the towns Porcelain Fountains, walk on porcelain in the Porcelain-Alleyway, explore the many shops or listen to the Porcelain Chimes at the Town Hall. Then step into the world of the Porzellanikon Selb. It is a complex of three Museums, the Rosenthal Museum, the European Industrial Museum of Porcelain and the European Museum for Technical Ceramics.

Bad Alexandersbad
[ source: www.badalexandersbad.de]

Day 3: Luisenburg Rock Labyrinth - Bad Alexandersbad

The Luisenburg Landscape Park, in German called Steinwald, is located near Wunsiedel. This Rock Labyrinth was developed as a tourist destination long time ago and is nowadays home to an open air theater surrounded by bizarre Rock Formations. There are 2 well-marked trails leading through the labyrinth, passing huge Granite Rock Formations and Canyons. From the Summit Cross with an altitude of 785 meters you will enjoy beautiful views. Later that day or in case of poor weather conditions make a stop in Bad Alexandersbad. Since about 100 years tourists travel to old health-resort towns like Bad Alexandersbad in the Fichtel-Mountains. Nowadays it is a modern Spa Resort with thermal baths and health-resort equipment. Bad Alexandersbad offers a wide supply of relaxation to all visitors. Medicinal springs, sole and radon baths, generous sauna sceneries and quiet rest spaces promise relaxation of the everyday life. It is also here in Bad Alexandersbad that you will find nice restaurants to sample authentic local cuisine.

Toboggun Run at Mount Ochsenkopf
[ source: www.sommerrodelbahn-ochsenkopf.de]

Day 4: Bischofsgrün - Ochsenkopf

Bischofsgrün, directly translated to Bishopsgreen, is a municipality in the district of Bayreuth. It is situated within the Fichtelgebirge between the mountain range's two largest mountains; the Schneeberg, 1,051 meters and the Ochsenkopf, 1024 meters high. One of the two chair lifts that climb to the summit of the Ochsenkopf originates in Bischofsgrün, making the town an ideal location for outdoor recreation all year round. During the winter months tourists flock to the area for alpine skiing, cross-country skiing, and sledding. During the summer, mountain biking and hiking are popular. Bischofsgrün is supposedly the town where the art of glassblowing became a true industry. Although glassblowing is no longer a necessity, Bischofsgrün has become a tourist attraction. Take the chair-lift all the way up to mountain and enjoy the breathtaking views. During summer you can take a ride with the toboggan run. You can either walk about 20 minutes from the valley- or mountain-station to the starting point or use the chair-lift. 1,000 meters excitement and 10 banked corners await the whole family. The Asenturm, or Asen-Tower on the mountain summit is an outlook-tower with a restaurant, offering a wide range of local and international foods, and drinks.

Bayreuth Market Square, GNU, author Michael Sander
[ source: Wikipedia]

Day 5: Bayreuth - Wagner and beyond

Besides being world famous for the annual Richard Wagner-Festival, Bayreuth has a lot more to offer. It is located on the Red Main River in a valley between the Frankish Alb and the Fichtelgebirge. Discover the town center, the Hermitage Museum with the magnificent gardens and water fountains and the Margrave Opera-House, one of the finest Baroque style theaters. To learn more about the legacy of Richard Wagner visit the Richard Wagner Museum, housed in the Villa Wahnfried. Beer has a long tradition in the whole of Bavaria and Upper-Franconia is no exception. Did you know that the municipality Aufsess in the administrative district Bayreuth has 1500 residents and 4 breweries? This fact makes it the municipality with the highest brewery density, listed in the Guinness Book of Records! In the Beer-Museum Maisel's Brauerei in Bayreuth you can witness old traditions and modern production and get to taste this typical Bavarian all time favorite drink.

Mining at Fichtelberg
[ source: www.bergwerk-fichtelberg.de]

Day 6: Fichtelberg - Gleißinger Fels Show-Mine

The Fichtelgebirge mining operations already started in the early Middle Ages. Gold, tin, minerals, iron, stones and grounds were mined and later uranium was discovered. The towns Wunsiedel, Weißenstadt, Arzberg, Goldkronach or Fichtelberg-Neubau were founded by the mining industry. At the southeast flank of the Ochsenkopf, in the heart of the natural park Hohes Fichtelgebirge and on the lake Fichtelsee, lies Fichtelberg. It is here in Fichtelberg-Neubau where you still can obtain an insight into the mining history of the Fichtelgebirge, in the Show-Mine Gleissinger Fels. It is world-wide the last of its kind, accessible to visitors and with 500 years, the oldest mine in North-Bavaria. Under qualified guidance and dressed like a professional and traditional Bergmann with a lantern in your hand, you will discover the hidden treasures inside the mountain and find traces of 20 million years history of the Ochsenkopf!

Bocksbeutel, only used for Franconian wines, GNU, author Mussklprozz
[ source: Wikipedia]

Day 7: Departure

It's time to face the world above again and get ready to return to the airport for your flight home. Besides your great memories you might like to take a special bottle of Frankenwein with you. The different Franconian grape varieties include: Silvaner, Müller-Thurgau, Bacchus, Riesling, Spätburgunder, Domina, Dornfelder and Regent. Since 1989 the special bottle, the Bocksbeutel, is protected in the EU and can only be used for Franconian wines!

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