Neuhaus (Windischeschenbach), Bayern (Bavaria):
Hotel zum Waldnaabtal

Sunday 6th April 2014

Bob Thompson

When I reached this hotel I realised that the hill on which Neuhaus stands has not got any lower! This time I had come via the steps up from Windischeschenbach, which is one of the routes to Marktplatz (Marketplace, actually the main street in this village). Standing sentinel at no 1 is the Hotel zum Waldnaabtal. This three star establishment caters mostly for outdoor tourists to the area which is noted for the beauty of its many walking paths and cycle tracks.

The hotel has 12 rooms and would make a good base for touring the Zoigl pubs of the area, especially if you were motorised, as I wouldn't like to climb that hill every day.

The name Waldnaabtal means Valley of the (river) Waldnaab, along which there are many fine walks. The hotel also caters for functions and has conference facilities. It has been in the ownership of the same family, Bäumler, for over 80 years.

Entering through the main door I turned left into the main room which, although it was late in the afternoon on a Sunday, was still fairly busy with diners and drinkers. The decor is mostly varnished light wood with wall panelling to above head height. All of the seating and other furniture is also wooden, with some of it fitted and the rest loose. There were flowers on each table and the whole ensemble exuded a feeling of comfort.

I ordered a Zoigl beer and it came in a very interesting glass, see photograph. The only place I have seen this shape with any regularity is in Hungary, where it used to be quite common.

I thought the beer tasted similar to the one I had across the road a Käck'n but with a dryer and more bitter aftertaste, very enjoyable.

The hotel is located at a very historic corner of the village as it looks over to the castle of Burg Neuhaus which was built around 1300 for the Landgraf Johann von Leutchenburg. I think he was a land-owning feudal Lord. It was used more as a hunting lodge than for any real purposes of defence.

It is also right next to the church of St Agatha which was built in 1752. This was lost in a fire of 1887 when nearly the entire village was destroyed. It was rebuilt in stone during 1888, as was most of Neuhaus. I would guess that the hotel also dates from this period.

So, there are plenty of good reasons to visit Neuhaus and the Hotel zum Waldnaabtal.

Important Information:

Hotel zum Waldnaabtal, Marktplatz 1, Neuhaus (Windischeschenbach). Tel: 09681 3711

Open: Saturday-Thursday 10.00-22.00. Please confirm before travelling.
The hotel is open on Friday.

Buses are infrequent and usually run only Mondays to Fridays.

The station of Windischeschenbach is served by trains of the Vogtlandbahn Railway Company and operate about every hour Monday to Friday, and two-hourly on Saturday and Sunday.
They run from Regensburg to Marktredwitz via Schwandorf and Weiden.

The station and town of Windischeschenbach are about a kilometre away but is severely uphill to Neuhaus. It can take up to 30 minutes in that direction.

Update January 2020. Hours: Monday-Thursday/Saturday: 17.30-22.30; Friday: Closed;
Sunday: 11.00-14.00, 17.30-21.00. Hotel is open at all times including Friday.
For a taxi in the Neuhaus/Windischeschenbach area Martin Neugirg on 09681 3915 is recommended.