The Upper Palatine Forest ( or Böhmischer Wald; , ) is a mountain range in Central Europe that is divided between the Czech Republic and Germany. It is a part of the larger Bohemian Massif and the German Central Uplands.
Geography
The German side belongs to the Upper Palatinate region of Bavaria, it stretches about from the Bavarian Forest in the south up to the Fichtel Mountains and the Steinwald range in the north. However, the highest peaks of the range lie along the eastern Czech side in the Plzeň Region of western Bohemia, northwest of the Bohemian Forest. The southern rim runs from the Cham and Furth Basin across the border to the Všeruby (Neumark) mountain pass, which is part of the Main European Watershed. The other end is marked by Waldsassen, the northernmost town of the Upper Palatinate.
The Mittelgebirge range is a mountainous solid mass, its highest point Čerchov being at an altitude of . Prominent rocks include the Wolfenstein and the Parkstein hill. Once a mining area for iron and gold, the uplands feature many steep valleys, medieval castle ruins and numerous hiking trails. It is a popular destination for recreation.
Rivers rising in the Upper Palatinate Forest include Wondreb (Odrava), a tributary of the Ohře, with Muglbach waterfall the Waldnaab headstream of the Naab and its Pfreimd and Schwarzach tributaries the Mže – headstream of the Berounka – and its Hamerský potok (Hammerbach) tributary.
Highest peaks German name Czech name Height (m) Height (ft) State/Region Country Plzeň Czech Republic Plzeň Czech Republic Plzeň Czech Republic Karlovy Vary Czech Republic Plzeň Czech Republic Bavaria Germany Bavaria Germany Plzeň Czech Republic Bavaria Germany Bavaria Germany Plzeň Czech Republic Bavaria Germany Bavaria Germany Bavaria Germany Bavaria Germany Bavaria Germany Bavaria Germany Bavaria Germany
Towns and municipalities Towns
Amberg, DE Bärnau, DE Poběžovice, CZ Přimda, CZ Tachov, CZ
Rötz, DE Schönsee, DE Schwandorf, DE Tirschenreuth, DE Vohenstrauß, DE
Waldmünchen, DE Waldsassen, DE Weiden, DE
Municipalities
Bad Neualbenreuth Bechtsrieth Eslarn Falkenberg Floß Flossenbürg Freudenberg Klenčí pod Čerchovem
Leuchtenberg Mantel Moosbach Nabburg Neunburg vorm Wald Neusorg Niedermurach Pleystein
Plößberg Oberviechtach Rozvadov Schirmitz Tännesberg Waidhaus Waldthurn
External links www.oberpfaelzerwald.de - Oberpfälzerwald.de (also available in English) www.oberpfaelzer-waldverein.de - Upper Palatine Forest Club www.heimat-now.de - Information about the Schellenberg Ruins www.bocklradweg.de - Cycling the od railway routes and info about the Upper Palatine Forest