Oberpfälzer Waldverein

The Oberpfälzer Waldverein (OWV) is a registered, non-profit, state-recognized association founded in 1916, headquartered at Rotkreuzplatz 10, 92637 Weiden i. d. OPf. Its working area covers the central and northern Upper Palatinate, extending west into the Oberpfälzer Jura, east to the Czech border, north to the pilgrimage church Kappel north of Waldsassen, and south to the line Schwandorf–Rötz–Waldmünchen. It is one of the hiking and heritage associations united in the Verband Deutscher Gebirgs- und Wandervereine e. V. (620,000 members). It publishes the quarterly magazine "Die Arnika" and the annual scientific publication "Oberpfälzer Heimat". Its tasks include nature, landscape and environmental protection, creating and maintaining biotopes, preserving cultural landscapes and monuments, village beautification, promoting hiking, and establishing and maintaining hiking trails, trail parking areas, educational paths, wildlife enclosures, viewpoints, information boards and rest benches.

The Oberpfälzer Waldverein was founded in 1916. It is a registered, non-profit, state-recognized association with its seat at Rotkreuzplatz 10, 92637 Weiden i. d. OPf. Its working area covers the central and northern Upper Palatinate, extending west into the Oberpfälzer Jura, east to the Czech border, north to the pilgrimage church Kappel north of Waldsassen, and south to the line Schwandorf–Rötz–Waldmünchen. It is one of the hiking and heritage associations united in the Verband Deutscher Gebirgs- und Wandervereine e. V. (620,000 members), which have set themselves the task of developing and maintaining a German low mountain range. Its magazine is "Die Arnika", published quarterly, and it also publishes the annual scientific journal "Oberpfälzer Heimat". The OWV's task is to promote knowledge and awareness of the Upper Palatinate homeland among its members and the public, and to do everything for the preservation of native nature as well as for the beautification of the landscape and localities. In fulfilling these goals, its essential tasks include nature, landscape and environmental protection (within the meaning of § 29 Bundesnaturschutzgesetz), with the goals of the Bavarian state association of the German Mountain and Hiking Associations being binding. These tasks include creating and maintaining biotopes, preserving cultural landscapes, preserving monuments, carrying out local beautification, promoting hiking, creating and maintaining hiking trails, hiking parking areas, educational paths, wildlife enclosures, viewpoints, information boards and rest benches, producing trail descriptions in the form of leaflets, and participating in hiking maps and hiking guides.

• 2026

  95th annual general meeting of the Oberpfälzer Waldverein – Hauptverein e.V. on 10 October 2026 in Floß.

  [1]Start - Oberpfälzer Waldvereinowv-hv.de
• 1916

  Oberpfälzer Waldverein founded.

  [2]Über Uns - Oberpfälzer Waldvereinowv-hv.de

A registered, non-profit, state-recognized hiking and heritage association dedicated to the Upper Palatinate homeland, nature conservation and trail maintenance.

• Die Arnika

  Quarterly magazine of the OWV.

• Oberpfälzer Heimat

  Annual scientific publication of the OWV.

1. 1Start - Oberpfälzer Waldvereinowv-hv.de
2. 2Über Uns - Oberpfälzer Waldvereinowv-hv.de
3. 3Oberpfälzer Waldvereinwikidata.org