The best walks and hikes around Falkenfels

St. Ursula's Pilgrimage Church The small, simple Baroque building from the late 17th century stands on late Gothic foundations in its eastern part. The recessed choir has a single bay, a three-sided octagonal end, and a semi-dome with lunettes. The nave has four window axes, a simple west gallery, and a modern transverse room projecting to the north, dating from 1905. The tower rises in front of the south portal to the church's eaves, square in shape; on the upper floor, it is octagonal and has a pointed spire. The ceiling paintings were created in 1913, and the altars around 1910, with Gothic and Baroque elements. On the high altar is the miraculous image, a copy of the Altötting pilgrimage image. The figure originally dates back to the 17th century, but was stolen during the night of October 8-9, 1980. In the hope of being cured of a serious cancer, Mr. Josef Stöckl Jr. from Eggerszell carved a replica of the original and presented it to the Pilgramsberg residents. The Madonna was carried to the pilgrimage church by Mr. Stöckl on Easter Vigil 1982 and placed there. On consoles to the sides are the wooden figures of Joachim and Anne, the parents of the Mother of God, created around 1500. On the northern side altar is the late Gothic figural group of Anne Selbdritt, also created around 1500. In the central niche of the southern side altar is the figure of St. Wendelin from around 1680, kneeling before the Christ Child appearing in the clouds. On the choir arch to the south is the late Gothic figure of St. Ursula, created around 1460, with an arrow as an attribute. On the north wall of the transept is an early Rococo crucifix. Source: Pilgrimages in the Diocese of Regensburg by Hans J. Utz

St. Nicholas Church The exterior of this small church undoubtedly bears Romanesque features, suggesting a date between the end of the 10th and the middle of the 13th century. However, if one were to believe the old folk tale that a pagan temple once stood here, this would mean that the earliest origins of this church date back to pre-Christian times, and that this site was chosen as the successor to a pagan place of worship. In fact, St. Nicholas Church had declined in importance after the castle chapel had developed over time into the main church. The fact that skulls were once excavated around the church suggests that the cemetery was originally located here, and that, in the early days of the town's history, the dead were buried in St. Nicholas. In 1717, the church was remodeled in the Baroque style. It consists of the nave and the recessed, semicircular choir in the east. A shingled turret with an onion dome rises on the gable roof of the nave to the west. The high altar was built in the second half of the 17th century. Between two smooth, blue marbled columns with golden capitals, each supporting the entablature and the altarpiece, stands a statue of St. Nicholas, the church's patron saint, in a shrine with golden decorations. To the left is John the Baptist and to the right is St. Christopher. In the altarpiece stands a figure of St. Sebastian, accompanied by two angels. Among the figures, which are small in comparison to the columns, the altar features a large votive painting, a depiction of St. Anne and Her Three Children, a depiction of the Virgin Mary and her mother Anne holding the infant Jesus. At the top of the picture, the Holy Spirit is painted in the form of a dove. At the bottom of the picture, a married couple is depicted praying and apparently supplicating the saints. The coat of arms on the left identifies the man as Wilhelm von Paulsdorf, while the coat of arms on the right is that of his third wife, Helena von Ortenburg. Source: Excerpts from www.wikipedia.de / www.ak-heimatgeschichte.mitterfels-online.de

Pilgrimage Church of St. John Called "St. John by the Oak", the first beginnings were probably a wayside cross or a small chapel as a resting place for the carters on the old road that led from Italy across the Danube to Bohemia. In 1664 it was mentioned as a small chapel with a portable altar that had been desecrated by the Swedes during the Thirty Years' War. The current church is an attractive baroque building from around 1721, very nicely situated next to a small property. The nave has three window axes and a flat ceiling. The slightly recessed choir of one bay closes off on three sides. Tuscan pilasters structure the entire room. The west gallery with a curved parapet is supported by two wooden columns. The west portal has a straight lintel. The square projecting west tower stands in the central axis; the top of its three floors has bevelled corners and a shingled onion dome. The portal vestibule has a cross vault. A beautiful frame stucco from the time the church was built has been applied to the nave ceiling. The high baroque altar dates from 1729, with two straight and two twisted columns, between them the altarpiece of the Baptism of Christ by John, created around 1670. In the elevator between volute pilasters is the image of the Immaculata, framed by acanthus carvings. The antependium has foliage carvings. The early baroque side altars were made in 1609 in the Windberg monastery and bought at auction for St. Johann in 1803. Two columns flank each shell niche. In the niches on the left are Mary with the child on a crescent moon, in the elevator St. Anne Selbdritt; on the right St. Sebastian, in the elevator St. Florian. The originals of the elevator figures were stolen in the 1960s. The confessional is a stylish baroque creation from the beginning of the 18th century. Major restorations took place in 1879, 1968 and 1985. The current organ comes from Haunkenzell and was installed in 2004. The roof structure and interior were completely restored from 2009 to 2011. Source: Extracts from information boards and pilgrimage churches in the diocese of Regensburg

St. Joseph's Castle Chapel Built on medieval castle walls and dedicated to St. George as a castle chapel. In 1693 a new building was built in honor of the Holy Family, especially St. Joseph, with the founding of a St. Joseph's Brotherhood by Baroness Theresia von Weichs. Devastated by fire in 1807, the church was rebuilt with changes. In 1888, the tower and roof structure burned out again due to a lightning strike, and the tower was given a crenellated crown when the new building was built. In 1897, it was expanded to its current size with neo-baroque interior design. In 1967, the church was completely remodeled, with the ceiling and roof structure being renewed and the interior redesigned. From 1991 to 1993, it was renovated again, restoring the original condition and returning the late baroque altar and the figures of saints. The renovated church and the people's altar were consecrated on March 21. Source: information board

Falkenfels Castle Around 1100, the Counts of Bogen built the castle on the rock that slopes steeply on three sides. From 1232, the Knights of Hohenfels ruled the castle, and from 1400, the Falkensteiners of Falkenfels. In 1331, “Valkenfelss” is mentioned in a copy from the 15th century as a landed estate. In 1425, the castle came into the possession of the Frauenbergers and remained so until their extinction in 1480. The castle was plundered by the Hussites in 1425 and conquered by troops of Duke Albrecht IV in the Böckler War in 1468. The Frauenbergers were followed by the Paulsdorfers. In the Löwler War, the castle was besieged for a week in 1492 and burned down after the capitulation on June 8, 1492, but was then rebuilt by Hans von Paulsdorf. In 1525, the property passed to the Seyboltstorffer family through marriage. From 1607 to 1796, the noble family of Barons von Weichs owned Falkenfels Castle. In the Thirty Years' War, the castle was set on fire by the Swedes in 1641, but was then rebuilt. On April 15, 1796, Josef Maria von Weichs sold Falkenfels and the associated manorial estates to Baron Gabriel von Buchstetten for 320,000 guilders. In 1807, the castle was again burned down, but was rebuilt. After the end of the Falkenfels manorial estate, the castle economy was destroyed in 1820. In 1821, the Lang family acquired the castle and set up a brewery here, which lasted until 1934. In 1925, a fire destroyed large parts of the complex, after which it was only partially rebuilt. From 1919 to 1950, the castle belonged to the Schimmelmann family. On May 8, 1951, the furniture manufacturer Franz Xaver Baier from Straubing bought the castle and converted it into a hotel with a restaurant. The castle was also increasingly used as a conference and congress building. Since 2001, the castle has belonged to the publisher Udo Sieber. Falkenfels Castle was originally surrounded by two terraced ring walls, one above the other. Today, the fortifications are only preserved on the north side. Approximately in the middle of the east side is the keep from the 13th century, the battlements are from a later period. The baroque castle chapel of St. Joseph was built in the 17th century on medieval foundations. It contains gravestones of Falkenfels castle lords. The outer areas of Falkenfels Castle are freely accessible, otherwise it serves as a castle hotel and restaurant. Source: Excerpts from www.wikipedia.de

Beautifully restored chapel. Maintained by the residents of Hirschberg

At every celebration everything is beautifully decorated

Nice little church near Falkenfels