Destinations for excursions

Visit the deepest (accessible) borehole, which is 9101 meters (9953 yards) deep, and climb the 83-meter (272.3-foot) high land drilling rig. The information center has a permanent exhibition entitled “System Erde”. Explore the fascinating geoscientific phenomena of our planet and find out the significance of research drilling.

Opening times

Peak season: Summertime: Mon – Sun 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Low season: Wintertime: Tues – Sun 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

School groups in the GEO laboratory and specialist groups by arrangement

Christmas and New Year

Closed Dec 24 – Dec 26
Closed Dec 31 – Jan 1

Contact

Geo-Zentrum an der KTB
Am Bohrturm 2
92670 Windischeschenbach

Tel. 09681 400430 oder 09681 4004315
E-Mail: info(at)geozentrum-ktb.de 

Close to the town of Waldsassen, which is home to an abbey, is Dreifaltigkeitskirche Kappl, a central Baroque building designed by master builder Georg Dientzenhofer based on the outline of a clover leaf.

Contact

Pfarrei St. Emmeram
Münchenreuth 34
95652 Waldsassen

Tel. 09632 502 139 oder 09632 5020
E-Mail: emmeram(at)kapplkirche.de 

The stairway to heaven stands at the heart of the Tirschenreuther Teichpfanne to the south of Kühsteinteich. A viewing tower with a platform about 20 m (65.6 feet) above the ground provides visitors with a 360° panorama of the depth and breadth of the Upper Palatinate Forest. This innovative edifice was designed by architect Peter Brückner.

Contact

Tourismuszentrum Oberpfälzer Wald
Landkreis Tirschenreuth
Mähringer Str. 7
95643 Tischenreuth

Tel. 09631 88 223
E-Mail: tourismus(at)tirschenreuth.de 

The abbey lies at the center of the well-restored village of Speinshart. The abbey church, which was built by Wolfgang Dientzenhofer between 1692 and 1697, is one of the most significant historical buildings of the northern Upper Palatinate. Inside the abbey church there is an abundance of stuccowork and paintings by the brothers Carlo Domenico and Bartolomeo Luccese to admire.

Contact

Praemanstratenserabtei Speinshart
Klosterhof 2
92676 Speinshart

Tel. 09645 601930
E-Mail: info(at)kloster-speinshart.de

What awaits you in the town of Waldsassen is a Baroque “Stiftsbasilika” containing Germany’s biggest church and abbey crypt, the Jann organ system with 103 registers, a library hall with life-size carved figures of Karl Stilp, and Waldsassen Abbey.

Contact

Tourist-Info Waldsassen 
Basilikaplatz 3
95652 Waldsassen

Tel 09632 88160
E-Mail: tourist-info(at)waldsassen.de 

With the help of 50 buildings built in keeping with the original buildings, the Upper Palatinate region’s museum shows rural peasant life as it once used to be. The museum covers 33 hectares. The regional and social diversity of how people built, lived, and kept house over the last 300 years is presented vividly at the open-air museum, and especially for children.

Contact

Freilandmuseum Oberpfalz
Neusath 200
92507 Nabburg

Tel. 09433 2442 0
E-Mail: freilandmuseum(at)bezirk-oberpfalz.de 

Visit Parkstein and dive into the exciting world of volcanism. Parkstein’s volcano museum provides information about how the volcano came about, and also about life at the foot of the basalt cone today and in times gone by. Experience the eruption of the volcano as if you were really there!
The way to the summit is accompanied by a geopath, which reveals interesting facts about the geological history of the stones of the Upper Palatinate. When you arrive at the top, you’ll be rewarded with a glorious view. The descent, which leads along the wall of basalt, shows impressive basalt columns.

Contact

Vulkanerlebnis Parkstein
Schlossgasse 5
92711 Parkstein

Tel. 09602 616 39 10
E-Mail: vulkanerlebnis(at)parkstein 

The Waldnaabtal is a magnet for nature lovers. This unique nature reserve (approx. 180 hectares) extends from Falkenberg to Neuhaus (Windischeschenbach). Picturesque rock formations with granite cliffs up to 50 m (164 ft) tall line the romantic river bed. Signposted hiking and cycling trails and the lodge offering meals (closed on Mondays) with its comfortable beer garden offer relaxation in richly varied nature.

Contact 

Tourismuszentrum Oberpfälzer Wald
Landkreis Tirschenreuth
Mähringer Str. 7
95643 Tischenreuth

Tel. 09631 88 223
E-Mail: tourismus(at)tirschenreuth.de 

Pilsen is the fourth-largest city in the Czech Republic, with a population of around 167,000, and dominates western Bohemia as a powerful center of industry, trade, culture, and administration. The historical heart of the city is captivating with its wonderful historical buildings. The Gothic-style St. Bartholomew’s Cathedral, the Renaissance city hall, the plague column on the market square, the buildings of the archdeaconry and the Franciscan monastery which were converted into Baroque style, and the Jewish synagogue deserve a special mention. Pilsen also has a variety of museums: a doll museum, a beer museum, and a western Bohemian history museum. The metropolis of Pilsen was the cultural capital of Europe in 2015. 

It is about 68.3 miles to Pilsen from Weiden.

More about Pilsen

Visit Weiden’s twin city Mariánské Lázně, the second-largest spa in the Czech Republic. One of the city’s important historical monuments is the pseudo-Baroque, cast-iron colonnade dating back to 1889. In front of the colonnade, you can listen to the “Singing Fountain” and follow in Goethe's footsteps on a pleasant stroll through the spacious park, which was created at the beginning of the 19th century. Mariánské Lázně is also perfect for lovers of drinking cures (Cross Spring, Karolina Spring, and Rudoph Spring). 

It is around 43.5 miles to Mariánské Lázně from Weiden.

More about Mariánské Lázně

Tourist-Information Mariánské Lázně
Hlavní 47/28, Dům Chopin
353 01 Mariánské Lázně

Tel.: +420 354 622 474
E-Mail: info(at)marianskelazne.cz 

The world-famous spa town of Karlovy Vary lies in the western part of the Czech Republic, around 74.5 miles from Prague. The large number of colonnades and warm mineral springs are landmarks of the city. The following colonnades are available to spa guests: Mill Colonnade, Park Colonnade, Market Colonnade, Chateau Colonnade, and Hot Spring Colonnade.

Karlovy Vary also offers a wide range of leisure activities and culture: theaters, movie theaters, galleries, museums, a library, an observatory, and the International Film Festival in early July. Guests can also visit castles and chateaux in the vicinity (e.g., Loket Castle and Hartenštejn Castle, chateaux: Bečov nad Teplou and Chyše).

It is about 62.1 miles to Karlovy Vary from Weiden.

More about Karlovy Vary