The best walks and hikes around Zenting

Wackelstein Trail - Hiking Trail No. 84 - Shaking a massive rock with sheer muscle power – this is the experience offered by the Wackelstein Trail, which leads from Entschenreuth into the forest and also to the Little Stone Church. Distance: approx. 4 km Elevation gain: 450 - 610 m Start: Entschenreuth district Marking: No. 84, white number in a red circle on a white background Duration: approx. 1.5 to 2 hours Accessible: no Surface: forest roads, forest paths Difficulty: medium The circular hiking trail begins in the Entschenreuth district at the end of the municipal road "Zum Wackelstein," where parking is also available. It then leads along a field path to the edge of the forest. From there, the hike can either go directly to the Wackelstein and continue to the Little Stone Church, or vice versa. From here on, it's a circular hiking trail. The trail initially follows the "Wackelstein" (Wackelstein) destination. Wooden arrows point the way, which becomes a true trail through the forest, with some steep ascents. A natural monument, the Wackelstein, forms the highest point of the circular hiking trail at over 600 meters. Several rocks are located on a broad knoll, one of which is particularly striking. A large block with edges measuring approximately three to four meters, a flat top and a curved bottom, rests on an almost flat slab of rock. Despite its enormous weight of approximately 50 tons, a single strong person can easily make it rock if they find the right spot on the rock. From the Wackelstein, the trail continues, initially backing off for a bit. A wooden signpost soon points the way further through the forest in a different direction, then back down again. The walk to the Little Stone Church is partly quite leisurely, but at times also almost adventurous, through the forest into the valley. A cluster of large boulders on the left side of the path finally forms the "Little Stone Church." After the Little Stone Church, it's not far to the starting point. The trail descends again along field and forest paths, finally returning to the starting point in Entschenreuth. Refreshment options: Gasthaus Klessinger, Hundsruck, Hauptstraße 31, Closed: Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays. Tel. +49 8504 8239 https://www.saldenburg.de/seite/417597/wackelstein-steig.html

The starting point of the four-kilometer hike with 150 meters of elevation gain is the hiking car park in Entschenreuth (Zum Wackelstein, 94163 Saldenburg-Entschenreuth). There is also a bus stop in the village. We follow the well-signposted circular hiking trail 84 for the entire tour. From the car park, we begin the hike on a forest path toward the edge of the forest. Right at the beginning, we pass a meadow with numerous knapweeds, which bloom well into autumn. If you look closely, you can see that the bright pink blossoms are surrounded by brown, scaly bracts, which together look a bit like a pineapple. After a few hundred meters, the path branches off to the left into the forest. From here, it's a steady climb, with some very steep sections awaiting us on the way to the Wackelstein. At the edge of the forest, you can hear a veritable concert of birds, and the call and song of a coal tit mingles with the great tits. At first, the forest is particularly idyllic, with numerous pines mingling with the beeches and spruces. A closer look at the forest floor is also worthwhile, as the heather is currently in bloom here. Gradually, the path becomes steeper and steeper, and after a while, the pines give way to a beech forest with large, moss-covered stones. Once at the top, it's worth taking a detour to the right to the wobbling stone. Can you make the stone, which weighs an estimated 50 tons, wobble? It's worth trying! The information board there tells you all about the origins of such natural phenomena. After this detour, we head back west, continuing along the Red 84 trail. Now the path descends steeply and gently. After a quarter of an hour, we pass an impressive rock formation, the Stone Church. Once at the bottom, we rejoin the same forest path at the edge of the forest, which we follow back to the parking lot. https://www.bayerischer-wald.de/aktivitaeten/wandern/wandertipps/zum-wackelstein-bei-entschenreuth

Parish Church of St. James in Zenting The church was founded in 1176, and consecrated in 1178 by Bishop Theobald of Passau. According to the parish chronicle, the high altar is said to have come from the Osterhofen Convent, probably from the old monastery parish church that was demolished in 1784. The present church was built at the end of the 17th century. In 1831, the nave was extended by 5 meters, and a wooden turret was added. In 1897, a 31-meter-high tower was built from stone blocks, crowned by a lantern cupola. Major renovations to the church took place in 1932 and 1963. Several works of art by the woodcarver Anton Schiller, who was born in Daxstein in 1883, are still preserved in the Catholic parish church. Another gem is the late Gothic "Gessenreuth Madonna" (c. 1500), artist unknown. https://www.bayerischer-wald.de/attraktion/pfarrkirche-st.-jakobus-zenting-d6d9619ad3

Beautiful path up to the wobbly rock.

Is that a whale? The only thing missing is the eye.

The gatehouse and adjacent residential buildings in the outer bailey area are all that remain of the former castle. The inner courtyard is accessible. The parish church of St. Pancras, which originated from the castle chapel, stands on the site of the former main castle. It features Baroque statues and modern furnishings.

Great well-preserved castle

When you emerge from the forest above, you'll see the small chapel nestled in the middle of the slope above Daxstein. In the meadows surrounding it, you'll find plenty of orchids, a type of orchid.