Waldkirchen: Ice Sports, Rauhnacht and City History
Accommodation in Waldkirchen
Specific activities throughout the year can help you choose a hotel in Waldkirchen: ice sports from October to February, the Rauhnacht on January 5, museums, trails and swimming facilities. For seasonal offerings, check the latest dates and visitor information if they are important to planning your trip.
Ice Sports and Rauhnacht in Winter
From October to February, visitors can go ice skating, play Bavarian curling and play ice hockey at the ice sports arena in Waldkirchen. The operating period is subject to updates, so check the latest information before your visit. You can then plan your stay around which of the three ice sports you would like to try.
The Waldkirchner Rauhnacht takes place every year on January 5 in the Market Square. During the torch-lit spectacle, figures such as souls, robbers, treasure hunters, witches, Death and the Devil appear. Howling and noise create the event’s eerie atmosphere. Since the current event program is important for planning your trip, check the information for the relevant date in advance.
Museums and Traces of the City’s History
The birthplace of the poet Emerenz Meier in Schiefweg houses a museum about emigration from the Bavarian and Bohemian Forests to America. The exhibition covers emigration in the 19th and early 20th centuries. It therefore focuses on a specific historical experience of the region, rather than solely on the poet’s life.
The Goldener Steig Museum presents the origins and development of Waldkirchen in five sections across two floors, in connection with the historic trade route of the same name. The Goldener Steig was an economic and cultural link between Bavaria and Bohemia. Historical traces also remain in the townscape: substantial sections of a defensive fortification and the elongated Market Square bear witness to Waldkirchen’s former importance as the principal town of the “Passauer Abteiland.”
Trails and Outdoor Activities
For a circular route within Waldkirchen, consider the 4 km “Gartenschau Weg.” It starts at the town park or, alternatively, at the town square. The 25 km Adalbert-Stifter walking and cycling trail is a different proposition: it starts at the railway station and follows a former railway line to Haidmühle. The two options differ considerably in length and route. Check the current trail markers on the Gartenschau Weg; for longer routes, it is advisable to check local conditions.
A nearby nature trail connects Waldkirchen with the Erlauzwieseler See spa park. It is used for hiking, walking, jogging and cycling. Also nearby, south of Waldkirchen, is the SauĂźbachklamm gorge, which was designated a nature reserve in 1939. Nature and landscape enthusiasts will find different options here: a trail with several specified uses and a gorge with designated protected status.
Waldkirchen’s treetop adventure park offers six courses at different heights and difficulty levels. Since seasonal availability may change, check with the operator about visiting before planning your day around it.
Swimming and a Visit to the Penninger Centre
The Karoli water park, including the Mediterraneum, invites visitors to swim in summer and winter. The outdoor pool at the water park has a climbing wall, a wide water slide, a waterfall, a lazy river, a swimming pool, massage jets, three shaded paddling pools and a playground right next to them. The outdoor pool opened in 2025; since facilities may change, check the latest visitor information before setting out.
The Penninger family distillery’s headquarters in Waldkirchen houses a visitor centre with a brasserie, exhibition and cinema, which can be visited free of charge. The exhibition covers the history of spirits production, as well as raw materials and how they are processed. Anyone who would like to learn more about how Penninger products are made can book an online distillery tour of the entire facility. The tour also includes a visit to the whisky cask warehouse. Check the latest booking options and visitor regulations before your visit.
Freyung-Grafenau as the Wider Context
The Bavarian Forest National Park extends into the district of Freyung-Grafenau, the wider travel destination. It opened on October 7, 1970, as Germany’s first national park. According to the 2024 zoning map, 75.37 percent of its area belongs to the natural zones. This classification describes the wider natural region and should be distinguished from the attractions in Waldkirchen.
Discover more destinations: Schönberg, Thurmansbang, Grafenau, Schöfweg, Philippsreut, Jandelsbrunn, Neureichenau, Perlesreut
Go to the wider travel overview: Freyung-Grafenau.
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