On the Bavarian-Bohemian Friendship Trail, borders disappear and people come closer together. Over 105 kilometres (65 mi), the trail connects the medieval towns of Nabburg, in Germany, and Horšovský Týn, in the Czech Republic. Immerse yourself in their shared history, cycle through the wonderful landscape of the Upper Palatinate Forest and the Bohemian Forest, and discover historic towns on both sides of the border.

In this Collection, I’ve divided the cycle route into two stages of equal length. The first stage between Nabburg and Schönsee runs along a former railway line. The surface consists mainly of a roadway paved with sand and fine chippings. The second stage takes you along forest and field paths as well as side roads to Horšovský Týn. The idyllic river valleys of Schwarzach, Murach, Ascha and Radbuza are characteristic of the surrounding landscape.

Starting from the medieval town of Nabburg, you’ll cycle eastwards along the former railway line. Time and again, places along the way remind you of its past: rest areas at abandoned stations, old locomotives and overgrown tracks. You can also look forward to architectural and cultural highlights such as Haus Murach Castle, the Zangenstein castle ruins and the town of Oberviechtach. In the stage destination Schönsee, with its picturesque ponds, you'll find several places to stop for refreshments and overnight stays.

On the second day, from Schönsee to Stadlern, I recommend a stop at the Hochfels geotope. At Schwarzach, you’ll cross the Czech border and cycle through the beautiful Bohemian Forest. You can take a break in the small town of Poběžovice before passing the pilgrimage church of Svatá Anna to Horšovský Týn, your destination.

Both Nabburg and Horšovský Týn are connected to the railway network. You can reach Nabburg station from Regensburg in just 40 minutes, or travel from Weiden in der Oberpfalz in just 20 minutes. The connections to Horšovský Týn station are not quite as convenient – you can get back to Nabburg with three changes in Poběžovice, Domažlice and Schwandorf. Find out in advance about the limited bicycle transport.

If you only want to cycle part of the trail, you can use the cycle bus for the return journey. From May to the beginning of October, a bus runs between Schönsee, Oberviechtach and Nabburg on all weekends, holidays and bank holidays. You can find more information at oberpfaelzerwald.de/bayerisch-boehmischer-freundschaftsweg (in German).