Between the Steinwald Nature Park, the second smallest in Bavaria, and the Northern Upper Palatinate Wald Northern Palatinate, is one of the most beautiful nature reserves in the northeast of Bavaria, the wildly romantic Waldnaabtal.
The river modeled the granite
Over the course of millions of years, the water of the Waldnaab has cut deep into the hard granite rock. The huge, flushed and rounded rock blocks testify to the irrepressible power of the water. Unique geotopes, such as the vertical chamber car or the butter barrel, a huge collection of granite blocks in the middle of the river, are attractions for hikers, nature lovers and photographers.
Biodiversity hotspot
Anyone who chooses the bank path along the Waldnaab and balances over tree roots and granite rock is often accompanied by the orange-blue metallic shimmer of dazzling kingfisher, who almost always announces itself with a shrill whistle, or from the water amusement, which plunges into the game water and maybe get a small fish. In the river sections that meander about the lenses, the acrobatic and apparently weightless gemstones of the ventilation, as the dragonflies are also called, perform their artistic mating flights.
Again and again the forest naab is interrupted by roaring whitewater areas that call the hikers, stop and listen to the noise of the water between the monumental granite formations.
But the looks of nature lovers should not only apply to the water and the rocks. If you lift your head and look through the jungle -like composite and ferns overgrown tree tops, with a little luck you can see the black stork, the eagle or the even rarer sea eagle.
Exciting discoveries on the ground
The often neglected areas on both sides of the path lead the hikers to another, exotic and sometimes colorful world. If you take your time and let your attentive view wander over the ground, you will discover strangely strangely -looking mushrooms.
If you look more closely at the lower "floor" and sometimes move on all fours, you can immerse yourself in another fascinating empire, namely that of the "slime mushrooms". These are actually called myxomycetes and, unlike their common name, are no mushrooms at all. Rather, they are organisms that mostly form small fruit bodies, which is why their appearance is reminiscent of mushrooms. In fact, in their way of life, they also combine the properties of animals and mushrooms, even if they are neither among the others. Most of the time, these unique beings, of which 373 species were detected in Germany, occur on dead wood, but they can also be found on the bark of living trees, rotting plant material and even on animal excrement.
And the reward is returned
Anyone who has completed the hike through the wildly romantic Waldnaabtal has deserved a hearty meal and a tasty "Zoiglbier". Of the five municipal brawl houses, in which traditionally bubbled citizens are allowed to brew their own beer, there are three of them in the Waldnaabtal, in Falkenberg, Windischeschenbach and Neuhaus. The well -known log cabin at the legendary water wheel, the landmark of the Waldnaabtal, is initially closed. An excellent alternative to the end is the historic "Hammermühle" at the hiking car park near Falkenberg, which is about to open and offers small meals in addition to coffee and cake.
In the vicinity of the Waldnaabtal, something is also offered for those who are interested in culture or geoscience, such as the extensive Waldnaabtal Museum in Neuhaus or the continental deep hole (KTB) in Windischeschenbach with the deepest active borehole of the earth with 9101m depth.
https://www.oberpfaelzerwald.de/
https://www.ferienregion-stiftland.de/was-leib-seele-gut-tut/natur-erleben/waldnaabtal/
Text and pictures: Dr. Siegfried Boatkohl
Book recommendation:
In an extended new edition, a fascinating illustrated book on the wildly romantic Waldnaabtal has been published by Battenberg Battenberg Bayerland. Where, over twelve kilometers, the forces of nature have created a miracle world of water, forest and stone, many rare and endangered species find an ideal habitat. The photographer Dr. With his camera, Siegfried Stokehro has not only captured the well -known places of the 183 hectare nature reserve in breathtaking recordings, but also a visit to the interreligating shots and streams as well as nearby excursion destinations. Editor Wolfgang Bernhardt provides the accompanying texts.
ISBN: 978-3-95587-086-7
Edition: 1st edition 2021
Format: 27 x 24 cm
Images: continuously colored
Cover-Typ: Hardcover
Number: 128