Journalist Katja Wegener visited the Steinwald from September 25th to 28th, 2020 and now reports on sustainable travel and unusual overnight destinations at WellSpa-Portal.

Just in time for the start of autumn, the Steinwald Alliance tourism team welcomed Katja Wegener from Bad Tölz. The journalist reports on the topics of gourmet travel, wellness, sustainable travel destinations, insider tips, and unusual accommodations for the WellSpa portal. During her research into undiscovered travel destinations, she came across the Steinwald Nature Park.

We accompanied Katja Wegener across the region, beginning in the Kemnath Volcanic Land. There, she visited the Schlossberg Waldeck with its historic castle complex and the Anzenstein basalt cone. The next morning, in autumnal temperatures, we walked through the misty Steinwald forest to all its highlights. Starting with the basalt horses at the Hohenhard hiking car park, we took the Goldsteig long-distance hiking trail to the Weißenstein castle ruins and continued along the Franconian Mountain Trail to the Trinity Chapel and the Upper Palatinate Tower. With a great deal of mindfulness for body and mind, we tried forest bathing in the afternoon with experts Thomas Zernak and Michael Schneider around the Pullenreuth glassworks.

On Sunday, the region was already showing a friendlier face again. With sunshine on our backs, we set off with GEOPARK ranger Angela Scharnagl from Falkenberg across the Waldnaab Valley to Altneuhaus Castle. The green moss and the urban riverside path revealed their wildly romantic side.

The Steinwald organic model region took us on an organic tour around Friedenfels, visiting the fields of Friedenfels' farms. A visit to Köstler's organic farm in Hermannsreuth was also included.

Katja Wegener also specializes in unusual accommodations. Therefore, she was privileged to be the damsel of the castle at the historic Falkenberg Castle for one night. Upon arrival, castle manager Teresa Würth guided her through the castle grounds and the museum, which focuses on the former lord of the castle, Count von der Schulenburg.

We also spent the night inARIBO Hotel in Erbendorf. The hotel's concept is simple: inclusive living, packaged in the architectural style of a cruise ship. The hotel is named after the old Count Palatine Aribo II, the official founder of the town of Erbendorf. In addition to spacious rooms and a wellness area, guests can enjoy regional organic beef from the Steinwald forest in the hotel's on-site Steghaus, Pier 28.

The blog entry about the Stone Forest can be found here.