How many of you out there have a dad, an uncle, or even just yourself that thinks fishing is the ultimate outdoor activity or sport (whatever you want to call it)? How many of you out there just enjoy a good seafood dinner?
Yes, you know I’m leading up to something. Aren’t you clever?
The reason I bring this up is that in the Upper Palatinate area of Bavaria, right next to the Czech Republic, is the town of Tirschenreuth, which was once a town known for fish farming.
Yes, fish farming. I’m not kidding, but I’m also not an expert on fish — otherwise you’d be reading a fishing website.
So, lucky you when you visit Tirschenreuth because the town has the Upper Palatinate Fisheries Museum. It’s not only just about the town’s history of fishing it also has four aquariums with carp & trout. All the better served on a plate with butter and lemon if you ask me, but you didn’t. ;-)
Connected to the Fisheries Museum by an underground tunnel is the City Museum, housed in a former monastery (now a courthouse). Both are located within an area known as the Museum Quarter right off the Marktplatz.
Also within this “historic” area are a tourist office and a monastery garden. This is also where you’ll see the town’s landmark. Folks there say former landmark — but once one, always one, ya know?
Either way, it was built in 1330 increasing in size in the late 16th century. With wall some three feet thick, it’s no wonder it’s still standing — yet sadly it’s all that’s left of the original defense wall (called a Stadtmauer in German).
One last thing to see before it’s time to hike the Palatinate Forest is the Fischhofbrücke, a little romantic stone bridge.
I can’t believe I almost forgot about Tirschenreuth’s churches. You can’t go hike around the Großen Teufelsküche (Great Devil’s Kitchen) to see the Wolfenstein (a rock formation) in the Hohenwald just yet.
One of the oldest of Tirschenreuth’s churches is the Parish Church of the Assumption. It was built in a Gothic style in 1299, but all that remains of that style is the choir — the rest is Baroque.
The Fatima Church is a neo-Gothic church built in the 1850’s. And there are both a new St. Peter’s and Old St. Peter’s Churches (which is actually the oldest one in town).
Sure, this sounds all nice right; but how many of you’d rather be fishing? Might as well be in Tirschenreuth, don’t ya think? ;-)