RoutesHiking trails & RoutesGermanyBavariaUpper PalatinateLandkreis Neumarkt in der OberpfalzLauterhofen
Jurasteig – Juniper Heath on Schanzberg loop from Thürsnacht
RoutesHiking trails & RoutesGermanyBavariaUpper PalatinateLandkreis Neumarkt in der OberpfalzLauterhofen
Jurasteig – Juniper Heath on Schanzberg loop from Thürsnacht
Hard
4.8
(22)
67
hikers
Jurasteig – Juniper Heath on Schanzberg loop from Thürsnacht
07:32
26.1km
640m
Hiking
Hard hike. Very good fitness required. Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required. The starting point of the route is accessible with public transport.
Last updated: September 24, 2026
Tips
Temporary access restrictions
Includes segments with temporary access restrictions. Check ahead to confirm restricted segments are open to the public.
After 18.3 km for 92 m
After 23.0 km for 204 m
Waypoints
A
Start point
Bus stop
1
3.62 km
Jurasteig
Highlight • Trail
Easy hiking trail over open fields with very beautiful views over the undulating land.
Translated by Google •
Tip by
2
7.25 km
Golden Cross at Schweppermannburg
Highlight • Monument
The wrought iron cross stands right next to the Schweppermannburg
Translated by Google •
Tip by
3
7.27 km
Schweppermannsburg castle ruins, Pfaffenhofen
Highlight • Castle
The origins of this castle are obscure. Presumably, in the 14th century, part of the castle was given to one of the sons of Seyfried Schweppermann, the field captain of Emperor Ludwig the Bavarian, for his numerous services. The mighty humpback blocks can be dated to before 1220. Seyfried Schweppermann had fought bravely for Emperor Ludwig the Bavarian in the last great knight battle in 1322 near Mühldorf. The saying associated with him is legendary: "Every man an egg, but the pious Schweppermann two!" In 1633 the castle was destroyed by the Swedes and the keep was later partially demolished. The southern wall, parts of the western wall and a piece of the old Pallas wall in the north have been preserved. Schlossstadel and Schweppermannsburg form a picturesque assembly that thrives on contrast. While the massive donjon exudes defensive strength, the broad barn with its half-hip roof appears sedate.
After extensive renovation by the Bavarian state, the castle complex has been under the administration of the Amberg Section of the German Alpine Club since 1965 and serves as a youth and hiking base.
The outer bailey of the Schweppermannsburg is freely accessible at all times, the main castle with the keep is usually not accessible.
If you want to take a look inside, you should contact the Amberg section of the German Alpine Club. Here you can also find out the date for the annual castle festival (usually in May or June) with a field fair and subsequent catering.
After extensive renovation by the Bavarian state, the castle complex has been under the administration of the Amberg Section of the German Alpine Club since 1965 and serves as a youth and hiking base.
The outer bailey of the Schweppermannsburg is freely accessible at all times, the main castle with the keep is usually not accessible.
If you want to take a look inside, you should contact the Amberg section of the German Alpine Club. Here you can also find out the date for the annual castle festival (usually in May or June) with a field fair and subsequent catering.
Translated by Google •
Tip by
4
8.89 km
St Martin's Church and the Karner in Pfaffenhofen
Highlight • Religious Site
The Karner to the left of the church is particularly interesting. It was probably built in the first half of the 13th century and was redesigned in the early 15th century in the Gothic style.
What was a Karner used for? Karner is the common name in Bavaria for an ossuary, often in spatial connection with a cemetery chapel. If space had to be created for new graves in fully occupied cemeteries, the bones from older graves were exhumed and cleaned. The bones were then stored in the basement of Karnern to save space. There was usually a chapel on the upper floor. The blessing from this consecrated room should also radiate onto the bones below. During the Reformation, first in Protestant areas and then in the Enlightenment also in Catholic regions, Karner came out of use.
At the beginning of the 20th century, the remains of the extensive medieval painting on the inside of the upper floor were uncovered and restored. They show, among other things, the Annunciation and Mary's visit to Elisabeth, flying angels, St. Sebastian, a pope and a bishop. In the final medallions of the vaults, the handkerchief of Christ and Mary with the baby Jesus are depicted.
Karner is no longer very common. In many places they were torn down or repurposed, for example as sacristies or morgues. As a well-preserved example of a cemetery chapel with a crypt for dead bones underneath, the Karner von Pfaffenhofen therefore offers considerable art historical interest.
The chapel is built from dolomite blocks. The wall thickness is 1.30 m on the upper floor and 1.40 m on the lower floor.
What was a Karner used for? Karner is the common name in Bavaria for an ossuary, often in spatial connection with a cemetery chapel. If space had to be created for new graves in fully occupied cemeteries, the bones from older graves were exhumed and cleaned. The bones were then stored in the basement of Karnern to save space. There was usually a chapel on the upper floor. The blessing from this consecrated room should also radiate onto the bones below. During the Reformation, first in Protestant areas and then in the Enlightenment also in Catholic regions, Karner came out of use.
At the beginning of the 20th century, the remains of the extensive medieval painting on the inside of the upper floor were uncovered and restored. They show, among other things, the Annunciation and Mary's visit to Elisabeth, flying angels, St. Sebastian, a pope and a bishop. In the final medallions of the vaults, the handkerchief of Christ and Mary with the baby Jesus are depicted.
Karner is no longer very common. In many places they were torn down or repurposed, for example as sacristies or morgues. As a well-preserved example of a cemetery chapel with a crypt for dead bones underneath, the Karner von Pfaffenhofen therefore offers considerable art historical interest.
The chapel is built from dolomite blocks. The wall thickness is 1.30 m on the upper floor and 1.40 m on the lower floor.
Translated by Google •
Tip by
5
18.1 km
Way of the Cross Steps to the Pilgrimage Church
Highlight • Trail
Pretty steep climb up stairs to the pilgrimage church
Translated by Google •
Tip by
6
18.2 km
Pilgrimage Church of the Visitation of Mary, Habsberg
Highlight • Religious Site
Pilgrimage Church of the Visitation of the Virgin Mary
The construction of the second and larger church on the Habsberg, hereinafter referred to as the “pilgrimage church” to distinguish it from the Chapel of Grace, goes back to the initiative of the Helfenberg manor.
The structure of the church (40 x 16.5 m), which is visible from afar, has a retracted choir in the north, followed by a nave with three window axes and a tower 37 m high in the south. The older tower of the Maria Hilf Church in Amberg was unmistakably the model for the double onion dome with lantern and cross (18 m).
Construction of the church began in 1761 following planning by the Munich court master mason, Leonhard Matthäus Gießl, and the participation of the electoral master mason Johann Fischer from Ingolstadt. In 1764, accounts were already settled with the plasterer Josef Dietmayer from Wessobrunn and the fresco painter Johann Michael Wild from Amberg. The organ was installed in 1767 by Johann Conrad Funtsch from Amberg. In the same year, the high altar with tabernacle, the pulpit and a reliquary, as well as probably the two side altars, were completed by Georg Leonhard Dänthl from Velburg. The year 1769 brought the completion of the church.
The focal point of the room is the mighty high altar. In the excerpt, God the Father graciously bends down. In the large central shrine framed by angels, the Mother of God floats upwards as the Immaculata. She takes all the prayers and needs of those seeking help with her and brings them before the face of God. Four powerful sculptures on the left, John the Baptist and Zacharias, and on the right, Joachim and John the Evangelist, refer to the earthly and spiritual family of Mary.
The side altars are of similar quality to the high altar. Two columns each flank a central shrine. This contains a sculpture of St. in the left altar. Florian, to the left is St. Elizabeth, on the right St. Ottilie. The right side altar contains the figure of St. in the central shrine. George, to the left is St. Francis Xavier, on the right St. John Nepomuk, see.
The highlight of the church's decoration is the large ceiling fresco in the nave. Its theme is: Healing of the sick,” says the banner of the angel in the center of the picture under the figure of Mary.
Source: Excerpts from the Habsberg pilgrimage church guide
The construction of the second and larger church on the Habsberg, hereinafter referred to as the “pilgrimage church” to distinguish it from the Chapel of Grace, goes back to the initiative of the Helfenberg manor.
The structure of the church (40 x 16.5 m), which is visible from afar, has a retracted choir in the north, followed by a nave with three window axes and a tower 37 m high in the south. The older tower of the Maria Hilf Church in Amberg was unmistakably the model for the double onion dome with lantern and cross (18 m).
Construction of the church began in 1761 following planning by the Munich court master mason, Leonhard Matthäus Gießl, and the participation of the electoral master mason Johann Fischer from Ingolstadt. In 1764, accounts were already settled with the plasterer Josef Dietmayer from Wessobrunn and the fresco painter Johann Michael Wild from Amberg. The organ was installed in 1767 by Johann Conrad Funtsch from Amberg. In the same year, the high altar with tabernacle, the pulpit and a reliquary, as well as probably the two side altars, were completed by Georg Leonhard Dänthl from Velburg. The year 1769 brought the completion of the church.
The focal point of the room is the mighty high altar. In the excerpt, God the Father graciously bends down. In the large central shrine framed by angels, the Mother of God floats upwards as the Immaculata. She takes all the prayers and needs of those seeking help with her and brings them before the face of God. Four powerful sculptures on the left, John the Baptist and Zacharias, and on the right, Joachim and John the Evangelist, refer to the earthly and spiritual family of Mary.
The side altars are of similar quality to the high altar. Two columns each flank a central shrine. This contains a sculpture of St. in the left altar. Florian, to the left is St. Elizabeth, on the right St. Ottilie. The right side altar contains the figure of St. in the central shrine. George, to the left is St. Francis Xavier, on the right St. John Nepomuk, see.
The highlight of the church's decoration is the large ceiling fresco in the nave. Its theme is: Healing of the sick,” says the banner of the angel in the center of the picture under the figure of Mary.
Source: Excerpts from the Habsberg pilgrimage church guide
Translated by Google •
Tip by
7
18.3 km
Gnadenkapelle Maria, Help of the Sick with votive tablets and miraculous image
Highlight • Religious Site
The miraculous image for the pilgrimage is in the chapel of grace
Translated by Google •
Tip by
8
20.7 km
Juniper Heath on Schanzberg
Highlight • Natural Monument
The dry slope of the Schanzberg is a natural gem. Scattered by rocks and with a high biodiversity, you can make new discoveries with every step.
Translated by Google •
Tip by
B
26.1 km
End point
Bus stop
Way Types & Surfaces
Way Types
16.7 km
4.35 km
4.13 km
738 m
236 m
< 100 m
Surfaces
13.0 km
4.31 km
4.17 km
2.27 km
2.27 km
123 m
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Highest point (610 m)
Lowest point (440 m)
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Wednesday 7 October
18°C
7°C
96 %
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Max wind speed: 26.0 km/h
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Comments
Beautiful stage!
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13.9 km were planned today, but first there was a small shopping tour and then we deviated from the …
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