The best city hikes and walks in Landkreis Hof

Interesting work of art on the Saale cycle path, directly on the Saxon Saale river.

For understandable reasons, the water is turned off during the winter months.

The town hall fountain is covered during the winter months, but the figures above it are visible.

The water lily fountain is covered during the winter months.

St. Lorenz Church in Lorenz Park at the end of the pedestrian zone is the oldest church in the city and, as the mother church of the region, of great historical significance. It was first documented in 1214, but is believed to have been built as early as 1080. Repeatedly rebuilt and renovated, the church today stands as a remarkable example of early 19th-century church architecture. The church's interior dates back to a comprehensive renovation in 1822 in the Neoclassical style. The pulpit altar, in the so-called Margravial style, also dates from this period. The most important works of art are a crucifix (circa 1500) and the valuable "Hertnid von Stein Altarpiece," a late Gothic Franconian winged altarpiece from between 1480 and 1486. It was named after its donor, Hertnid von Stein, Dean of Bamberg Cathedral and parish priest in Hof, and depicts, among other things, St. Lawrence, the patron saint of the church. St. Lorenz Church is an "open church." Dedicated volunteers offer guided tours of the church and tower throughout the year, run the church café, and host picnics and film screenings. The surrounding St. Lorenz Park was transformed into the "Lorenzo Oasis" as part of the church's 800th anniversary celebrations, a project undertaken jointly by the parish and the city of Hof. Foundations, sponsors, and local residents also contributed to the project. https://www.hof.de/leben-erleben/sehenswuerdigkeiten-in-hof/kirchen

St. Mary's Church in Hof is an architectural landmark of the old town. After the Reformation, Hof was almost exclusively Protestant for centuries. It was only with its annexation by Bavaria in 1810 and the influx of Catholic officials and workers from Bohemia and the Franconian Forest that a Catholic community was re-established. The growing number of parishioners led to the construction of St. Mary's Church between 1864 and 1877, based on plans by the Regensburg Cathedral architect Vincenz Denzinger. It was built on the site of the former inn "Zur goldenen Sonne" (At the Golden Sun) – the present-day Sonnenplatz (Sun Square) still commemorates this. The church is built in the Neo-Gothic style and, with its artistic unity, forms an imposing conclusion to the old town. Its furnishings are entirely Neo-Gothic and are listed as historical monuments, including the romantic mechanical cone-valve organ. The Steinmeyer organ from 1885 complements the furnishings and underscores the church's musical tradition. St. Mary's is the main Catholic church in Upper Franconia and belongs to the northeasternmost deanery of the Archdiocese of Bamberg. It is also a memorial to Bernhard Lichtenberg, the Blessed Provost of the Cathedral and a martyr under National Socialism. After the opening of the border in 1989, the church once again became a place of cultural exchange with Catholic communities in Plauen and Weida. https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._Marien_(Hof)

At Oberer Torplatz 1 was the location of Germany's oldest printing house, the Mintzel printing works. Printing in Hof began as early as the 16th century. In 1642, Johann Albrecht Mintzel came to Hof, having founded a printing house in Leipzig in 1625. The Mintzel family operated a printing house, a book publishing house, and, from 1802, a newspaper publishing house in Hof. The last Mintzel died in 1840; his widow married her manager, Carl Hoermann, in 1844, whose descendants ran the business until very recently. https://saechsisch-bayerisches-staedtenetz.de/dokument/Stadtspaziergang_Hof_1480354153_3090.pdf

The water lily fountain in front of St. Mary's Church in Hof is a relatively recent addition to the townscape. Erected in 1987, it blends remarkably harmoniously into its historic surroundings. With its clean lines and three-dimensional water lily leaves, it acts as a tranquil oasis within the urban fabric. The fountain invites visitors to linger: the gentle lapping of the water creates a relaxed atmosphere that enlivens the square without overwhelming it. Its striking contrast with the Gothic architecture of St. Mary's Church lends it a unique effect – a modern element that complements, rather than disrupts, the historic setting. http://www.schwabenmedia.de/Bauwerke/Bayern/Hof-seerosenbrunnen.php?style=styleB