Rauher Kulm Lookout Tower – Rauher Kulm Lookout Tower loop from Neustadt am Kulm
Rauher Kulm Lookout Tower – Rauher Kulm Lookout Tower loop from Neustadt am Kulm
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Rauher Kulm Lookout Tower – Rauher Kulm Lookout Tower loop from Neustadt am Kulm
01:21
4.61km
120m
Hiking
Easy hike. Great for any fitness level. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels. The starting point of the route is right next to a parking lot.
Last updated: March 18, 2026
Tips
Your route passes through a protected area
Please check local regulations for:
Naturpark Nördlicher Oberpfälzer Wald
Waypoints
Start point
Parking
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2.32 km
Sheltered rest area at the foot of Rauher Kulm
Highlight • Rest Area
The exposed basalt slopes are a valuable habitat for numerous animals and rare plants. Around 90 different lichens and mosses grow and thrive on the heat-storing basalt boulders. The Rauhe Kulm has been protected as a natural monument since 1909 and has been a nature reserve in accordance with European standards (FFH) for several years. In 2013, the Rauhe Kulm was voted Germany's most beautiful natural wonder.
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2.41 km
Circular rampart at Rauher Kulm
Highlight • Historical Site
The exposed basalt slopes are a valuable habitat for numerous animals and rare plants. Around 90 different lichens and mosses grow and thrive on the heat-storing basalt boulders. The Rauhe Kulm has been protected as a natural monument since 1909 and has been a nature reserve in accordance with European standards (FFH) for several years. In 2013, the Rauhe Kulm was voted Germany's most beautiful natural wonder.
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2.46 km
Picnic spot with a view of Rauher Kulm
Highlight • Viewpoint
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2.55 km
Rauher Kulm Lookout Tower
Highlight • Monument
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2.61 km
Rauher Kulm Lookout Tower
Highlight • Viewpoint
Nicolaus Apel built a wooden observation tower as early as 1807. There was a movable gold-plated sun above a hall, which is why the tower was also called the Sun Temple. Apple's tower existed until 1895 when the dilapidated structure was replaced by a new tower.
This second tower was replaced in 1937 by a third tower 6 meters higher. Due to the weather, this platform had to be replaced by a new one in 1962; henceforth a 25 meter high steel construction with larch wood cladding was enthroned over the town of Neustadt am Kulm.
On June 30, 1984, this fourth tower burned down within half an hour after being set on fire; the perpetrator has not yet been identified. In the following years, a fifth tower was built, which is still standing today.
Source: de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rauher_Kulm_(Oberpfalz)
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2.89 km
Ascent of Rauher Kulm
Highlight • Climb
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2.96 km
Ancient Rampart of Rauher Kulm
Highlight • Historical Site
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3.02 km
Basalt blockfields at Rauher Kulm
Highlight • Natural Monument
The mountain was formed around 21 million years ago by volcanic activity, with the magma solidifying beneath the earth's surface, forming the distinctive shape of the Rauhe Kulm2. At the summit there is a 25-meter-high observation tower that offers a panoramic view of the Fichtel Mountains, the Franconian Jura and northern Upper Palatinate2.
The Rauhe Kulm is not only geologically interesting, but also historically significant. Archaeological finds indicate that the mountain was already inhabited in Celtic times around 500 BC2. The remains of a ring wall bear witness to this early settlement2.
The area around the Rauhe Kulm is protected as a natural monument and provides a habitat for rare animal and plant species2. Particularly noteworthy are the basalt block heaps, which create unique habitats due to their special microclimatic conditions2.
A visit to the Rauher Kulm is worthwhile not only because of the impressive view, but also because of the fascinating geological and historical aspects.
Source: KI
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4.61 km
End point
Parking
Way Types & Surfaces
Way Types
3.38 km
1.17 km
< 100 m
Surfaces
3.05 km
892 m
646 m
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Wednesday 20 May
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9°C
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