Sand dunes in Central Germany? Yes, they really do exist. Close to Nuremberg in Germany’s region of Franconia, there is a unique sandy landscape that was formed during the last Ice Age. The Franconian Dune Trail takes you through little-known nature spots from quiet forests to impressive gorges through this spectacular region.

The five stages of this 52-mile (84-km) circular trail reveal Franconia’s dunes, which are now almost completely forested. The rivers here were once covered by sand, thus changing their course for centuries. You can easily catch the train to the start and endpoint of this interesting hike in Altdorf. However, as the hike is circular, you can join at any other stage destination too.

The first stage takes you into the heart of the dune landscape, covered by fragrant forests, and onto the municipality of Weißenbrunn. On the second day, you hike over the panoramic Moritzberg Mountain to Röthenbach. On the third stage, you will hike along the picturesque Pegnitz Valley with its sandy terraces. Beginning in the village of Brunn, the fourth day takes you to the Rothebach Gorge nestled in the Lorenzer Forest and onto the town of Feucht. Your final day of adventure is a hike along glistening lakes and canals and past the unusual sandstone formations and caves of the Schwarzach Gorge.

The start and finish points of every stage in this Collection have public transport connections meaning you can easily hike individual sections or just a part of the trail. We recommend wearing sturdy shoes and carrying sufficient water, especially on the fifth, more demanding stage. You can find information about public transport, here: vgn.de/en.

The following stage descriptions will give you a taste of what to expect on your adventure. If you are still hungry for more, you can find more information on hikes around Nuremberg, here: komoot.de/user/nuernbergerland/collections). See you in the Nuremberg Land!