Frankenwaldverein

The Frankenwaldverein e.V. (FWV) is one of the largest hiking and heritage associations in Franconia and southern Thuringia, Germany. Headquartered in Naila in the Frankenwald region, it is entered in the register of associations at the Amtsgericht Hof (VR 331). With roughly 9,500 to 10,000 members and more than 60 local groups—including in Kronach, Kulmbach, Hof, Naila, and Nordhalben—it is one of the largest clubs in Upper Franconia. The association's motto is "Heimat liegt in unserer Natur" (Home lies in our nature). The FWV is best known for maintaining a dense network of hiking trails covering more than 4,500 kilometers across the Frankenwald. This volunteer-maintained network helped the Frankenwald become Bavaria's first "Qualitätsregion Wanderbares Deutschland" (Quality Region for Hiking in Germany) in 2015, certified by the Deutscher Wanderverband. Since then, the association has overseen 31 quality trails, including the newly created FrankenwaldSteigla. Beyond trails, the FWV owns and maintains five or more lookout towers—such as the Frankenwarte, Lucas-Cranach-Turm, Prinz-Luitpold-Turm, Radspitzturm, and Wiedeturm—and twelve hiking homes, some offering overnight accommodation. It also manages a charcoal kiln (Kohlenmeiler) in the Thiemitztal near Schwarzenbach am Wald, which is lit twice a year. The association engages in the preservation of local customs, culture, and nature conservation. Its local groups organize numerous events that enrich the social and cultural life of the Frankenwald. The FWV is a member of the Deutscher Wanderverband and has received the Eichendorff-Plakette, a federal award for services to hiking, heritage, and the environment, in 1985, with several local groups also honored in later years. The association celebrated its 150th anniversary in 2026 in its founding town of Nordhalben.

The Frankenwaldverein traces its origins to 1 January 1876, when the "Sektion Frankenwald" of the German and Austrian Alpine Club was founded in Nordhalben, initially as a subsection of the "Sektion Trostberg" in Upper Bavaria. The founding was initiated by a member of the Sektion Trostberg. Later, further sections formed within the then-independent Sektion Frankenwald: the Sektion Greiz became independent in 1882, followed a few years later by the Sektionen Fichtelgebirge in Wunsiedel (predecessor of the Fichtelgebirgsverein) and Lichtenfels. After a chairman moved, Naila became the association's seat in 1883. In 1887, a wooden lookout tower was inaugurated on the Döbraberg. After a difficult phase in the early 1890s, the association received its current name, Frankenwaldverein, on 30 October 1898. The newly founded association took over the Döbra tower and the inventory of the old section. Dr. Oskar Köhl from Naila is considered the founder of the association. In the following years, several new local groups formed, including the Kronach group relatively late in 1911. Beautification associations joined the Frankenwaldverein as local groups, such as Schauenstein and Presseck in 1909, followed later by Seibelsdorf. Before World War I, the association erected several stone lookout towers, preceded by three dilapidated wooden structures. Lorenz Reinhard Spitzenpfeil created the association's logo in 1924, which is still in use today. He also designed the cover of the club magazine and various club awards and illustrations. The 50th anniversary was celebrated in 1926 in Kronach with a two-day program and an elaborate historical parade. The 150th anniversary was celebrated in 2026 in the founding town of Nordhalben with a two-day program in the Nordwaldhalle. Over the decades, the Frankenwaldverein expanded its network of trails, towers, and hiking homes. In 1976, the 100th anniversary was celebrated in Nordhalben. Between 1978 and 1981, the entire trail network was re-marked. In 1985, the association received the Eichendorff-Plakette from the Federal President for services to hiking, heritage, and the environment. In 1990, the first and only German-German star hike took place. In 1993, the association's office was inaugurated in the Karlsgasse 7 in Naila, and the Deutscher Wandertag was held in Naila. In 1998, the Eichendorff-Plakette was awarded to seven local groups. In 2000, the club magazine "Frankenwald" received a new design. In 2002, a mission statement was created. In 2003, the 100th anniversary of the FWV hiking map was celebrated in Bad Steben. In 2004, the Frankenweg was inaugurated. In 2005, planning began for the new concept of the trail network. In 2006, the Burgenweg was opened and the Lucas-Cranach-Turm was re-inaugurated. In 2008, the new trail network was inaugurated on the Döbraberg, and a commemorative hour for Dr. Oskar Köhl was held in Naila. In 2009, the first charcoal kiln in the Thiemitztal was lit. In 2014, the German Hiking Hub (Deutsches Wanderdrehkreuz) was inaugurated in the Frankenwald. In 2015, the region received the "Qualitätsregion Wanderbares Deutschland" certification. In 2025, the association hosted the 1st Bavarian-Thuringian Hiking Day in Mödlareuth. The 150th anniversary was celebrated in 2026.

• Sektion Frankenwald of the German and Austrian Alpine Club founded in Nordhalben.

• Naila becomes the association's seat.

• Wooden lookout tower inaugurated on the Döbraberg.

• Association receives its current name Frankenwaldverein.

• Local group Kronach founded.

• Lorenz Reinhard Spitzenpfeil creates the association logo.

• 50th anniversary celebrated in Kronach.

• 100th anniversary celebrated in Nordhalben.

• Entire trail network re-marked.

• Awarded the Eichendorff-Plakette by the Federal President.

• First and only German-German star hike.

• Association office inaugurated in Naila.

• Deutscher Wandertag held in Naila.

• Eichendorff-Plakette awarded to 7 local groups.

• New design for the club magazine "Frankenwald".

• Mission statement created.

• 100th anniversary of the FWV hiking map celebrated in Bad Steben.

• Frankenweg inaugurated.

• Planning of the new trail network concept.

• Burgenweg opened and Lucas-Cranach-Turm re-inaugurated.

• New trail network inaugurated on the Döbraberg.

• Dr.-Oskar-Köhl commemorative hour in Naila.

• First charcoal kiln lit in the Thiemitztal.

• German Hiking Hub (Deutsches Wanderdrehkreuz) inaugurated in the Frankenwald.

Volunteer-driven heritage and hiking association focused on maintaining trails, towers, and cultural traditions in the Frankenwald region.

• Frankenwald trail network

  Over 4,500 km of hiking trails maintained by volunteers.

• FrankenwaldSteigla

  31 quality trails certified under Qualitätsregion Wanderbares Deutschland.

• Lookout towers

  Five or more towers owned and maintained, including Frankenwarte, Lucas-Cranach-Turm, Prinz-Luitpold-Turm, Radspitzturm, Wiedeturm.

• Hiking homes

  Twelve hiking homes, some offering overnight accommodation.

• Kohlenmeiler Thiemitztal

  Charcoal kiln lit twice a year.

• Club magazine "Frankenwald"

  Regular publication for members.

1. 1Frankenwaldverein: Frankenwaldvereinfrankenwaldverein.de
2. 2Pressecker-Knock-Turm ist Geschichte : Frankenwaldvereinfrankenwaldverein.de
3. 3Vereinsgeschichte: Frankenwaldvereinfrankenwaldverein.de
4. 4Frankenwaldvereinwikidata.org
5. 5Frankenwaldvereinde.wikipedia.org