Happurg walks

A lovely circular walk from Happurg around the Happurg Reservoir in the Nürnberger Land region.

The third stage of the Juniper Trail summarises all the scenic highlights on a short circular route. Magnificent beech forests above Kastl, dry grasslands and, of course, the beautiful juniper heaths. It leads across the historic market square in Kastl with the old town hall, past the monastery church and up into the Hochholz, where the trail follows a forest nature trail for a while.

The Schmausenbuck, in the east of Nuremberg, is best known for the Nuremberg Tiergarten located there. What not everyone knows, however, is that this wooded hill, around 390 metres high, is also one of the quarries for the so-called ‘Burgsandstein’, which was used in many of the city’s famous buildings. The former quarries there in the Nuremberg Reichswald are now designated as a valuable geotope by the State Office for Environmental Protection.

The second part of the Juniper Trail also has its own special highlights. From Hohenburg, the trail leads along the slope of the Lauterach Valley through forests and juniper heaths across the sparsely populated landscape. At Ransbach, the idyllic trail switches to the other bank of the Lauterach, then leads over the ridge to Kastl. The area between Hohenburg and Kastl in the Hirschwald Nature Park has a special feature. Directly on the cycle path that flanks the Lauterach lies the Hohenfels military training area, at the top of which the ruins of the former castle complex are visible.

The Rednitz-Rezat Trail from Rednitzhembach to Spalt follows the river all the way. It takes you past the varied landscapes of the Franconian Lake District. Sometimes over wooded high banks, sometimes through wide valley meadows into the famous Spalt hills with their countless hop gardens. Cultural highlights along the way range from historic old towns, Ratibor Castle, museums and many beautiful churches and monuments to art trails. Cosy Franconian pubs and beer gardens invite you to stop for a break along the way.

Half-timbered houses, a castle ruin, water in abundance – the charming town of Hilpoltstein in the district of Roth has all this to offer. A beautiful and very varied circular walk takes in the finest sights.

The Lauterach Valley, which runs between Schmidmühlen and Kastl through the northern Upper Palatinate, is one of the Jura's most special gems. On the flanks of the hilltops on both sides of the romantic Jurabach stream, bizarre rock formations originating from the sponge reefs of a tropical sea adorn the path. The trail often leads directly through fragrant juniper heaths, which have earned the Lauterach Valley the name Bavarian Tuscany. In between, there are small market towns and villages with beautiful old town halls on historic market squares, castles, ruins and, of course, churches, which are further highlights of the tour. Here in the Lauterach Valley is also the last nursery of the greater horseshoe bat, a species of bat that is found nowhere else in Germany.

The first stage of the Juniper Trail starts in Schmidtmühlen, an idyllic market town in the Lauterach Valley. In addition to three castles, the market square with its pretty half-timbered houses is particularly worth a visit. From here, the trail climbs up into the forest and finally, halfway up the slope high above the Lauterach Valley, you can hike through the juniper heaths.