Frankenwaldverein — 150th Anniversary Weekend in Nordhalben

150 Years Frankenwaldverein

1876 — when Bismarck was still Chancellor and the German Empire was only five years old — 23 citizens in the small Upper Franconian market town of Nordhalben joined together to form an "association for the care and promotion of tourism in the Frankenwald." It was one of the earliest hiking associations in Germany. Today, the Frankenwaldverein e.V. has over 20,000 members, manages 4,200 km of marked hiking trails in the Frankenwald, is the holder of the prestigious FrankenwaldSteig (Top Trail Germany), and maintains hiking lodges, trail markings, shelters, and nature education programs.

Festival Weekend at the Founding Location

For its 150th anniversary, the association returns to its founding location, Nordhalben. The weekend of June 13th to 14th, 2026, combines two days of festivities: an official ceremony on Saturday with a Franconian-cheerful festival evening in the Nordwaldhalle, and on Sunday, the grand Frankenwald Hiking Experience Day with family hikes, information stands, guided tours, and hands-on activities.

Hix-Tradimix, Amelie von Feilitzsch, and Sven Bach

The festival evening on Saturday, June 13th, 2026, starting at 8 PM (doors open at 7 PM) in the Nordwaldhalle features a high-caliber program: the Franconian family group Hix-Tradimix from the Hof region, reinterpreting traditional Franconian folk music with accordion, clarinets, saxophone, and tuba; violinist Amelie von Feilitzsch; and Bavarian comedian Sven Bach. Reserved table seating is available for groups of 4 or more (registration via [email protected]).

Hiking Experience Day on Sunday

Sunday, June 14th, starting at 10 AM, is the ultimate family day: Guided tours on the FrankenwaldSteigla through the Bärwurzwiesen meadows, information stands from local groups, hands-on activities for children, and regional delicacies. The entire event has the character of a folk hiking day with a festive atmosphere — a perfect opportunity to discover the Frankenwald in all its diversity.

Nordhalben and the Frankenwald

Nordhalben is located in the extreme northeast of Upper Franconia, in the district of Kronach, on the border with Thuringia. At 705 m, it is one of the highest communities in the Frankenwald — the "Nordwald," the historical name for the region, lives on in the association's name. The Frankenwald itself is a low mountain range between the Thuringian Forest and the Fichtelgebirge, characterized by slate, dense forests, clear streams, and quiet high plateaus — an ideal hiking area.