Discover Thierstein

Explore Thierstein through its location and the history of its castle. The town center nestles against the castle hill; above the town of the same name, the Thierstein castle ruins stand on a basalt cone. Three geographical levels are also useful when planning your stay: places to visit in the town itself, offerings in the surrounding municipality, and other stops in the wider destination of Wunsiedel Im Fichtelgebirge.

Castle ruins and keep

The Thierstein castle ruins are the remains of the former Thierstein fortress, which dates back to the 14th century. Its position on the basalt cone above the town makes it a prominent landmark in the town’s history. You can climb the keep when the entrance door is open. Bear this condition in mind when planning your visit: the keep can only be climbed when the door is open.

Town center and St. George’s Church

The newly redesigned market square features the Sechsämter Fountain, with linden trees providing shade. Together with the castle hill, the town center offers several landmarks to help orient you on a walk through Thierstein.

Today’s Evangelical Lutheran St. George’s Church was elevated to parish church status in 1558. Fires destroyed it in 1667 and 1725. Following a fire on April 20, 1945, the church burned down completely and was reconsecrated in 1949. These dates mark several clearly distinct periods in its history.

Walk, Hammerrunde and fishing

The historic walk passes through the town of Thierstein; the sights are numbered on the town map. This helps you identify individual stops along the way. The Hammerrunde is another option in the surrounding municipality: this signposted circular route follows the Eger past Kaiserhammer, Schwarzenhammer and Stabhammer. At the route’s information boards, you can scan QR codes to listen to audio features created especially for the trail.

Fishing is possible year-round at the municipal pond in Thierstein, provided the pond is not frozen and closed seasons and minimum size limits are observed. Check the current permit requirements before fishing. The requirements for this activity differ from those for accessing the keep: climbing it is only possible when the door is open.

Exploring the wider destination of Wunsiedel Im Fichtelgebirge

The Bavarian section of the Eger Cycle Route is around 55 kilometers long and follows the Eger through Bad Weißenstadt, Röslau, Marktleuthen, Thierstein, Selb, Hohenberg a.d.E. and Schirnding. On the Czech side, the route continues via Pomezí nad Ohří and Cheb, where it connects with Czech long-distance cycle route No. 6, the Cyklostezka Ohře. When planning, it is worth checking local route information in case of temporary closures or detours.

The “Kleiner Johannes” Old Mine in Arzberg and the Häuselloh Quarry in Selb are also part of the wider destination of Wunsiedel Im Fichtelgebirge. The mine focuses on mining and geology. The quarry is about the extraction and processing of granite; guided tours are available on request. Seasonal opening months and arrangements for guided tours may change, so check with the operator in advance. This lets you consider Thierstein’s local history and other regional topics as distinct parts of a stay.

Discover more destinations: Tröstau, Weißenstadt, Schirnding, Arzberg, Marktredwitz, Thiersheim, Wunsiedel, Selb.

See the wider travel overview: Wunsiedel Im Fichtelgebirge.