Hidden Treasures in Franconia A Paradise for Hikers (Bavaria, Germany) 13.09.2019 – 23.09.2019 #15207 Interested in this Journey ? Overview Itinerary Details 18.11.2018 Friendship Force Bavaria 1 “Join us on a hiking tour through romantic Franconia, dive into the charm of this journey by hiking to our daily destinations” #15207 OVERVIEW HIKING HIGHLIGHTS HIKE WITH LOCALS ON HIDDEN TRAILS A paradise for hikers who like to Enjoy beautiful landscape and idyllic The tour will be Friend-ship Force wander through an idyllic countryside, valleys members of our club. The hikes are sampling all it has to offer and enjoying Stroll through romantic towns and selected individually by us. it with all their senses. breathe medieval atmosphere Know before you go Its romanticism has been praised by Discover cultural highlights poets and painters. They strolled Be in excellent physical condition Admire historic#15207 castles, caves and through the forests and meadows more 13.09.2019 – 23.09.2019 as you will be hiking up to six pilgrimage churches than 200 years ago. We follow their hours a day footsteps. Experience the well-known Bring rain gear, hiking boots and a Franconian food and wine HOME HOSPITALITY daypack Follow the trace of Franconian beer paths Luggage transport during hike is We welcome you with a potluck organized but limited to 12 kilo party and two nights homestay Relax after impressive hikes in (26.5 lbs). Leave excess luggage at Enjoy an exciting day in Nuremberg comfortable hotels with your hosts your hosts Get in touch with local people Farewell-Party with an impressive We would love to have you view18.11.2018 over ancient Nuremberg FriendshipInterested Force Bavaria in this Journey ? on this journey with us2 Hidden Treasures in Franconia A Paradise for Hikers (Bavaria, Germany) 11 Days / 10 Nights Program September 13, 2019 – September 23, 2019 #15207 Coordinator: Claudia Maron, FF Bavaria [email protected] All Friendship Force Itineraries are subject to change 18.11.2018 Friendship Force Bavaria 3 Veilbronn 4 7 Burg Germany Rabenstein 6 Muggendorf 3 5 Explanations 2 Weißenohe Eckental 1 Nürnberg 18.11.2018 Friendship Force Bavaria 4 “We are passionate hikers all around the world and look forward to showing you the best hidden places in our country” Claudia18.11.2018 Maron and Stephen Walter Friendship Force Bavaria 5 SEPTEMBER 13, 2019 Be welcome . Time to relax with your hosts . In the evening welcome and Potluck Party at Sportheim Eckenhaid - a good occasion to get to know Club Members as well as friends of Friendship Force . Presentation of the hiking program and opportunity to ask questions 18.11.2018 Friendship Force Bavaria 6 SEPTEMBER 14, 2019 Visit of Nuremberg Capital of Franconia . Guided tour through the historic part of the city . Try the famous Nuremberg sausages . Visit of the Imperial Castle, one of the most fortified palaces within the former Holy Roman Empire . Evening with hosts 18.11.2018 Friendship Force Bavaria 7 SEPTEMBER 15, 2019 Explore Bavarian Beer Culture . Our Hiking tour starts in Weissenohe at the foothills of the Franconian mountains next to the former monastery, nowadays a famous brewery. We follow the celebrated „5 Seidla Steig“ (5 tankard track), connecting five family-run breweries. Taste the beers during the hike. Enjoy typical rural scenery and the picturesque towns and villages like Gräfenberg, Hohenschwärz and Thuisbrunn. Transfer by public bus from Egloffstein to Gößweinstein through the lovely Trubach valley. We arrive in our comfortable hotel, Stempferhof, for a 2-nights stay. https://www.stempferhof.de/en.html18.11.2018 Friendship Force Bavaria 8 SEPTEMBER 16, 2019 Nature at its Best . Today our loop walk leads through the hills south of Gößweinstein. We will discover natural arches, rock formations and caves in an area completely off the beaten track. Return to Gößweinstein in the early afternoon. Plenty of time to explore the town with its castle overlooking the historic centre. Before dinner we´ll enjoy an organ concert in the impressive basilica. 18.11.2018 Friendship Force Bavaria 9 SEPTEMBER 17, 2019 Souvenirs of past days . Our long hike today starts with a short but steep descent to the river Wiesent. We will follow the idyllic valley along the river. Enjoy the charming landscape and the crystal clear waters, a paradise for trout. Explore more stunning rock formations on our way to Rabeneck Castle. We’ll leave the valley here and after another hour we reach today´s destination, Rabenstein Castle. Dive into the medieval atmosphere of an ancient castle high above the river. We will stay in the castle hotel for two nights. https://www.burg- rabenstein.de/ 18.11.2018 Friendship Force Bavaria 10 SEPTEMBER 18, 2019 Fascination for all Senses . After yesterday´s strenuous hike we take it easy today on a short loop walk in the idyllic surroundings of Rabenstein Castle. Weather permitting we will visit the falconry in the early afternoon. Up to twelve birds of prey can be seen in the show as they fly and hunt with natural grace and precision. Only a ten minutes stroll leads us to an underground palace Sophie´s cave, a fairy- tale landscape with stalagmites and flowstone draperies, with an overwhelming lightshow combined with wonderful music. We finish this day with a traditional knight´s dinner. 18.11.2018 Friendship Force Bavaria 11 SEPTEMBER 19, 2019 Be impressed . Our 10 km walk leads us to the beautiful town of Tüchersfeld, an epitome of a Franconian town, framed by spectacular rock spires. We continue our hike along the river Püttlach and admire impressive gorges before we reach today´s destination, Pottenstein. We climb up directly to the thousand year old castle to catch the last guided tour. Pottenstein is surrounded by high cliffs. Our group will stay at the hotel „Goldene Krone“ at the market square (1 night). The roots of this hotel go back to the 14th century. https://www.goldene-krone- pottenstein.de/infoa.html 18.11.2018 Friendship Force Bavaria 12 SEPTEMBER 20, 2019 Romantic highlights . The day begins with a transfer by public bus from Pottenstein to Muggendorf. Here we start our walk to Veilbronn, where we first visit the beautifully located ruin of Castle Neideck high above the banks of river Wiesent. Next highlight is the romantic town of Streitberg. On our way we have the opportunity to visit the Bing cave with it´s impressive stalactites. A beautiful landscape through forests and meadows leads us to our last accommodation „Landhaus Sponsel-Regus“ (2 nights). https://www.sponsel-regus.de/en . Finish the day with a spa or wellness to relax your muscles and soul. 18.11.2018 Friendship Force Bavaria 13 SEPTEMBER 21, 2019 Test your fitness . Our last hike is a long loop walk to the beautiful surroundings of Veilbronn. Alternatively we can make a short cut back to the hotel depending on the group´s decision. Relax your tired musclesU in the wellness area. Take time to reflect and share your hiking experiences. 18.11.2018 Friendship Force Bavaria 14 SEPTEMBER 22, 2019 History Claus Schenk Graf von Stauffenberg – Wikipedia . Your hosts will pick you up at the hotel for the https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Claus_Schenk_Graf_von_Stauffenberg guided tour through the Greifenstein Castle, seat of the noble family von Stauffenberg. Claus Graf Schenk von Stauffenberg, known in his role as a leading member of the resistance against the Nazi regime, even better known in Operation Valkyrie: The the movie „Operation Valkyrie“ played by Tom Stauffenberg Plot Cruise. to kill Adolf Hitler . Relax in the afternoon at your host’s house and look forward to our Farewell Dinner overlooking medieval Nürnberg at night. 18.11.2018 Friendship Force Bavaria 15 SEPTEMBER 23, 2019 The Spirit of Friendship Force . It´s time to say good-bye. We loved to have you with us and we wish you a safe journey for those who return home and great days if you continue your travel. … and we are sure the memories of this hiking trip will establish long lasting relations in the spirit of Friendship Force. Interested in this journey ? We would love to have you on this journey with us #15207 18.11.2018 Friendship Force Bavaria 16 Rate (#15207) Availability Double room 1.250 Euro 15 Spaces remaining Single room 1.400 Euro Activity Level Price Includes: Host fees, welcome and farewell Challenging dinner, all expenses for the1,250 hiking tour (Comfortable Be in an excellent1,250 physical condition. hotels, dinner, lunch packages, water on the hike), public transport, all listed activities The charm of this hike consists in the largely avoidance of cars. We hike our destinations daily from one Journey doesn‘t include FFI fees, beverages, accommodation to the next. individual activities for free hours, such as wellness, swimming pool (if not available at the hotel) Transports serve only to bridge overly long distances. Since luggage is transported, height differences are We reserve the right to find solutions for physically easier to overcome. This trip requires great demands on non fit participants at their own costs your physical fitness. 18.11.2018 Friendship Force Bavaria 17.