The best MTB trails around Pemfling

Frequently used bridge over the Regen

Thierlstein Castle The castle was founded by the Thierlinger family, who also gave it its name. They were originally ministeriales (unfree knights) of the Margraves of Cham. With the death of the Counts of Bogen in 1242, the Thierlingers became part of Bavaria. Thierlstein Castle, then known as Lichtenstein, was not built until around 1360. The name refers to the light-colored quartz rock on which the castle stands; it belongs to the Pfahl, a 150-kilometer-long quartz vein that also outcrops in Weißenstein. Stephanus de Türlstein is mentioned in a papal document from 1365. Other owners include Ebo in 1374 and Erasmus in 1384. They held administrative offices for the Bavarian Duke, including Stefan II in 1411 as administrator in Cham and Ulrich II, who was administrator in Neunburg. However, from 1488 onwards, Hans II participated in the Löwler uprising against the Duke and, as punishment, had to cede Thierlstein to his son. The castle became a Bavarian Hofmark (manorial estate) and declined in importance. In the 16th century, the Thierlinger family became Protestant, and the last representative, Georg Bernhardt Thierlinger, died in 1620 at the Battle of White Mountain during the Thirty Years' War. Afterwards, the castle changed hands frequently and is now owned by the Barons von Schacky. Of the medieval castle, primarily the palace on the rock remains, protected by a well-preserved round keep on the vulnerable side. This keep has a diameter of 6 meters, walls 2 meters thick, and is built of rubble stone. The pointed-arch entrance is located 12 meters above ground. The living space is similarly tiny to that of the tower at the Treffelstein castle ruins. In the 16th century, the surrounding buildings were added; they appear to fill the space of an earlier outer bailey. Further alterations followed, including Baroque renovations in the 18th century, Neo-Gothic remodeling in 1894, and restorations in 1972 and 1989. Excavations unearthed numerous late medieval artifacts and also revealed a drawbridge on the south side next to the keep. The ground plan, the outer walls, and Appian's illustration suggest that a tiny, square courtyard once separated the keep from the residential building, which was later built over. Today, a castle brewery stands on the outer bailey grounds, and its rooms can be rented for events. The castle itself is privately owned and not open to the public. Source: www.burgenseite.de

A traditional, family-run inn with a beer garden and "fair prices" 👍

From here you have a magnificent view.

Pilgrimage Chapel Streicherröhren To trace the history of this pilgrimage chapel, we come across an old hand-drawn map from around 1570, which is located in the Bavarian State Archives in Munich. On this map, a small wayside shrine is marked on the road between Untertraubenbach and Roding—a shrine that may have been the origin of the Streicherröhren pilgrimage site. According to tradition, the origin of the pilgrimage itself is attributed to a miracle that is said to have occurred in 1661. While this cannot be historically verified, we do know that in 1715 there was a wooden chapel in Streicherröhren, which was already visited by many pilgrims, and that votive tablets had been placed there decades earlier. The small pilgrimage evidently enjoyed considerable popularity, which also explains why it subsequently attracted opponents, particularly in Roding, who, due to their own pilgrimage to Heilbrünnl, viewed the development of Streicherröhren with envy. The parish priest of Roding complained in Regensburg about the "unauthorized gatherings" and "superstition" and was thus able to obtain permission, with the consent of the local landowner, to discontinue the pilgrimage. On his own initiative, he sent men to Streicherröhren, had the chapel dismantled, and the offerings, the miraculous image, and the votive tablets brought back to Roding. With the permission of Elector Max Emmanuel of Bavaria, the chapel was rebuilt, and a new miraculous image was presented in 1718. When the pilgrimage declined towards the end of the 18th century, a miraculous healing, confirmed by both ecclesiastical and secular authorities, helped to revive it. The chapel was renovated, and the miraculous image, previously painted on glass, was replaced with one on wood. During the 19th century, the chapel acquired its present form: Framed within a simple fieldstone structure, the miraculous image, a simple depiction of the Virgin Mary with the Christ Child as Queen, was placed behind a simple iron grille. Donated votive tablets and images, as well as candles and inscriptions inside the chapel, show us that Streicherröhren is still visited by many people seeking help and solace. Source: Excerpts from www.bayerischer-wald.de

Wetterfeld Castle Ruins As early as 1118, Gottfried von Wetterfeld appears as an influential ministerialis (unfree knight) of the Diepoldings, the powerful Margraves of Cham and Vohburg. He seems to have maintained good relations with many monasteries, especially Reichenbach Abbey—no wonder, since Abbot Reginboto was his brother. Numerous donations to various monasteries by Gottfried are documented, a widespread practice among knights to secure their salvation. In a donation from 1155, Heinrich is even mentioned as an imperial ministerialis, which demonstrates the family's rapid political rise. In 1179, Karl and Heinrich "de Weterinfeld" appear, after which the family disappears from the historical record. It is not until 1268 that we hear of a Deinhardus, who is now subject to the Bavarian dukes; perhaps they lost their independence with the inheritance of the Hohenstaufen dynasty. From 1283 onward, the Wittelsbachs sent judges to Wetterfeld. Ducal ministeriales from the surrounding area succeeded in office: Hauzendorfer, Katzdorfer, Zenger, and others. In 1322, it was pledged to the Chamerau family. In 1329, Wetterfeld came under the control of the Palatine line of the Wittelsbachs, who also appointed judges. In 1410, it passed to the sub-principality of Neumarkt-Neunburg, with the Degenberger, Nothaft, and Zenger families, among others, serving as administrators. During the Hussite raids of 1428 and 1433, the castle was destroyed and subsequently rebuilt. A unique feature of Wetterfeld is the four "castle guards"—four legally independent building complexes within the castle, which were granted separately—making the ownership situation quite complex. In 1621, during the Thirty Years' War, the Upper Palatinate, including Wetterfeld, came under the rule of Duke Maximilian of Bavaria. Later in the war, Wetterfeld was destroyed twice by the Swedes and subsequently rebuilt. But the castle and its buildings continued to deteriorate, and the administrators increasingly relocated their offices outside the castle. In 1812, the administrative office was moved to Roding, the castle grounds were subdivided, and private houses were built over. Wetterfeld is a moated castle—a branch of the Regen River bordered the complex to the northeast. The still clearly visible, deep, walled moat could be filled with sluice gates in case of attack. Essentially, only the large gate tower, built of rubble stone with corner quoins, remains. Its upper, habitable floors make it a variation of the late medieval residential tower. Source: www.burgenseite.de

From the observation tower you can enjoy a fantastic view of the Regen and the surrounding fields and meadows.

New bridge over the Regen. Everything's fine.