Pottenstein is a town in Franconian Switzerland, in the district of Upper Franconia. Pottenstein is in the steep rocky gorge carved by the River Püttlach, with many interesting rock formations, overlooked by Pottenstein Castle since the 11th century.

Get in

By car

The main road into town is the B470. Roads in this area are curvy and hilly , making overtaking difficult. In the warm months they're also popular with motorcyclists.

By plane

The nearest international airport is Nuremberg Airport.

By train and bus

The nearest train station is in Pegnitz on the Nuremberg - Bayreuth line. From there the bus (VGN line 389) goes to Pottenstein. On weekends between Pentecost and October 3, the bus runs every hour.

Public transport in the metropolitan region of Nuremberg is operated by the Verkehrsverbund Großraum Nürnberg VGN . It is possible to use different means of transport with one ticket, such as bus, train, S-Bahn or U-Bahn. Tickets can be purchased online or via an app.

See

Teufelshöhle

• 1 Pottenstein Castle, Burgstraße 13 (walk up Alte Burgweg), ☏ +49 92437221. May-Oct: daily 10:00-17:00. Towering imposingly on a rock above Pottenstein, can be visited including the castle museum. In the main castle are some beautifully preserved fully furnished old room. From the castle courtyard are beautiful views of Pottenstein in the valley below. €3. (updated Jun 2017)
• 2 Devil's Cave (Teufelshöhle). The 1,500 m (4,900 ft) long dripstone cave begins with a huge rock grotto, one of the largest in Germany. Particularly impressive is the large "Barbarossa Cathedral" with dimensions of 45 x 18 x 15 m; a village church would fit in this giant hall. As part of a 45-minute guided tour, the path has over 400 steps, with some crouching sections. Cave temperature 9°C all year round. Entrance is next to a café overlooking the road €7 adult. (updated Jun 2017)
• 3 Scharfrichtermuseum Pottenstein (Executioner's Museum), Hauptstr. 16, ☏ +49 9222 990 413, info@scharfrichtermuseum.de. Adult €5. (updated Aug 2022)
• 4 Fränkische-Schweiz Museum, Am Museum 5 (in Tüchersfeld.), ☏ +49 9242-1640. Apr-Nov: Th-Su 10:00-17:00. Adults €2.30, children €1.50. (updated Aug 2022)

Do

• 1 Felsenbad (outdoor swimming pool in nature), Pegnitzer Straße 35 (Pegnitzer Straße / B 470 south of the city), ☏ +49 9243 700592, info@felsenbad.eu. in summer time, only open when it's not raining, 11:00-19:00, on very nice days sometimes from 10:00. This is a swimming pool built at a lovely rock, using natural mechanism to warm and to regenerate the water; the buildings are Art Nouveau. Adults €3.80; youth €2.50. (updated Jun 2017)
• 2 Sommerrodelbahn Pottenstein (dry luge) (on B470 opposite the Felsenbad), ☏ +49 - 9243 - 92200. €3 per ride, €14 for 6 rides; children and youth up to the age of 15 years €2.50 and €11 respectively. (updated Jun 2017)

Buy

• 1 Zinnfigurenstube Kühlenfels (Tin Soldier Display), Kühlenfelser Straße 41, Kühlenfels, ☏ +49 92 43 90 34 03, iveta.helldoerfer@seznam.cz. M-F 08:00-18:00, Sa 13:00-18:00. Dioramas of painted (mostly Napoleonic) tin soldiers made in the museum, including Austerlitz, Borodino and La Haye Sante at Waterloo. Pictures and artefacts of the Generals. Ssoldiers can be purchased. Free. (updated Aug 2022)

Eat

• 1 Bäckerei & Café Frosch, Pegnitzer Str. 1 & 3. (updated Aug 2022)
• 2 Waldcafé Pottenstein, Oberes Püttlachtal 40, ☏ +49 9243903040. Sa Su 12:30-18:00 (closed M-F except holidays). (updated Aug 2022)
• 3 Paletti Eismanufaktur (Paletti Ice Cream), Hauptstraße 29. 10:30-21:00. (updated Aug 2022)

Drink

• 1 Gasthausbrauerei Hufeisen, Hauptstraße 36, ☏ +49 9243 260. Franconian cuisine and brotzeit. Treberbrot (spent grain bread) is baked on brewing days. (updated Aug 2022)

Sleep

• 1 Bruckmayers Hotel Schwan, Am Kurzentrum 6, ☏ +49 9243 9810. (updated Jun 2017)

Go next

• Bayreuth to the north east
• Pegnitz to the east
• Aufseß to the north west
• Forchheim to the west