Bavarian Forest, Mountain range in Bavaria, Germany

The Bavarian Forest is a mountain range along the Czech border that runs for 100 kilometers and includes dense woods, granite rock formations, and summits up to 1456 meters high (4777 feet). The landscape shifts between shaded valleys with streams, open highland bogs, and rocky slopes where spruce and beech trees grow at different elevations.

Until 1970, logging shaped the economy of the region before Germany established its first national park here to protect the natural environment. The decision shifted focus from extraction to conservation and changed how people see and visit the forest.

In villages such as Zwiesel, glassblowers work with methods passed down over centuries, shaping fine glass from materials found in the area. The local workshops open their doors to visitors and show how heat and skill turn sand and minerals into transparent vessels and crafted pieces.

Numerous marked trails run through the area, and information centers provide maps and advice about different difficulty levels. Visitors should prepare for changing weather and wear sturdy footwear, as many paths cross roots and rocky sections.

The name "Bavarian Forest" once referred only to the Vorderer Wald between the Danube and the Regen; the higher Hinterer Wald with Arber, Rachel and Lusen was counted as part of the Bohemian Forest. Official usage, tourism and the Iron Curtain pushed the name eastward, and since 1989 the range is again treated as one unit with the Czech Šumava.