The BEAR(g) is calling!
Grafenau - the bear town in the Bavarian Forest National Park
Grafenau lies in the heart of the Bavarian Forest at the gates of the Bavarian Forest National Park. The ideal starting point for unlimited tours through the national park region - for sports enthusiasts or leisure hikers, for nature lovers and little adventurers.
The climatic health resort is characterised by its heraldic animal, the bear. Whether as the living mascot "Bärtl" or as a sculpture by local artist Heinz Theuerjahr, whether as a bear at the doors of the national park administration, along the "Bear Trail" or as a real wild animal in the animal enclosure of the Bavarian Forest National Park: the fascinating giant is omnipresent in Grafenau.
Go on a search for traces and discover Bärtl Bär's favourite places around the bear town - e.g. on the Trinity Trail or along the Panorama Trail, past historic boundary stones and to great viewing points. Experience pure wilderness in Germany's oldest national park with exciting adventure trails through the rocky hiking area or up to the peaks Lusen (1373 m), Großer Rachel (1453 m), Falkenstein (1315 m) and Siebensteinkopf (1263 m). Hike along fascinating torrents with impressive flora and fauna through the Buchberger Leite and the Steinklamm gorge or across the award-winning Ilz river landscape.
From May to October, the Igelbuses will take you to the hiking starting points in the National Park free of charge with your National Park Guest Card. You also receive many discounts throughout the national park region.
For little adventurers, there are many bear-themed facilities to discover alongside the "Bärenpfad" family adventure trail. The national park's large forest play area and the bear-themed adventure playground in the BÄREAL promise fun and games, while the treetop trail takes you high up and you can observe wolves, bears and lynx up close in the animal enclosure. The Forest History Museum, where you can learn a lot about the history of the Bavarian Forest, is an exciting place - provided you dare to enter the magma chamber and the bog lift.
You're ready to go!
Follow the tracks of the bear...
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