Hilly, forested nature park in the eastern Bavarian Forest, bridging Bavarian, Oberpfälzer Wald and Bohemian landscapes.
Naturpark Oberer Bayerischer Wald
Naturpark Oberer Bayerischer Wald is a large protected landscape area in eastern Bavaria, covering the entire district of Cham and the eastern part of the district of Schwandorf. Established in 1989, it spans roughly 1,733 square kilometers and is the fourth-largest nature park in Bavaria. The park lies at the transition between the Bavarian Forest, the Oberpfälzer Wald and the border landscapes adjoining the Czech Republic, with the Cham-Further Senke forming part of its lowland setting.
The park's character is shaped by forested ridges, mixed upland terrain, river valleys and small glacial lakes, including the well-known Kleiner Arbersee. Roughly 76 percent of the park area is under landscape protection, and a substantial portion is designated as strictly protected nature reserves, most notably along the Regen river wetlands. Together, these layers of protection support a continuum of habitats ranging from dry pine forests and heathlands to wet meadows, moors, mountain forests and orchid-rich valley mires.
Recognized both for its cultural heritage and its natural values, the park is home to prehistoric archaeological finds, medieval monasteries and pilgrimage churches, as well as traditional regional products such as Bärwurz liqueur. It serves as a year-round outdoor recreation area with hiking, cycling, boating on the Regen river and winter sports, while also preserving geological treasures such as the Pfahl quartzite ridge.
