Bubenreuth High Water Trail

The hilly, entertaining forest circuit combines special types of forest such as primeval forest-like shady slope forests with magnificent castle ensembles such as in Atzelsberg. Halfway along the route, the tour also roams the Rathsberg Heights and the regionally unique geotope of the Rhaetolia sandstone layer there. Both at the starting point of Bubenreuth and at the destination of Atzelsberg, there are excellent places to stop for a break in the local beer gardens. The hike starts at Bubenreuth S-Bahn station and offers nice eye-catchers in the old town center such as historical half-timbered ensembles, the old village church of St. Josef in baroque-style (1925) or the idyllic beer garden of the Mörsbergei from the 18th century. At the end of the town, you reach the water protection area and meander along agricultural paths and trails past meadows, ponds and damp hollows before the path plunges into the forest. Shortly before this, an information board explains the flood protection concept for Bubenreuth through dam structures - the dams of which have served as hiking trails up to this point. The initial mixed pine forest takes you deeper and deeper into the "wilderness" on forest paths - the nature reserve of the same name runs a little south of the actual hiking trail. The tree population changes into a mixed beech forest, and the tour climbs steeply uphill in places, accompanied by watercourses, fallen dead wood 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 edge of the slope are atmospheric. Once at the top, the route emerges from the forest onto the hills of Atzelsberg - here you can stop off in the beer garden of the castle inn, a new sandstone building from the 19th century, next to the castle and its gardens, which were rebuilt by Conradt von Seutter from 1705 onwards. With a series of small 19th century farms 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 across to Franconian Switzerland. Numerous benches invite you to sit down, and the path names "Höhenweg", "Am Rundblick" and "Atzelsberger Steige" also indicate this. Agricultural paths zigzag through the cultural landscape with fields and meadows and are replaced by forest paths that lead along old oak trees on the edge between the hill and the forest slope. With the Erlanger Meilwald on the left, you touch the main road at the hiking car park and football field, behind which lies Rathsberg; you could already find out interesting things about the town on a field sign. On steep paths downhill you can marvel at the special geology of the region: the layer of the Rhaetolias sandstone is particularly pronounced around Rathsberg. Their decay has led to the formation of many small hills and valleys, which the hiking trail skirts or crosses. A wide forest path continues in the Bischofsmeilwald. If you are not afraid of a scrambling climb, you can take a detour to the duel memorial stone in memory of Karl Rubner from 1841. From here it is not far to Rathsberg Castle from 1622 with its former castle garden. Various forest paths skirt a fitness station and a forest kindergarten with a bee house. The hiking trail returns to Bubenreuth via the Maria Heimsuchungskirche church and offers the opportunity to explore the southern violin maker settlement on a detour. ( (c) Visit Erlangen