The Fünf-Seidla-Steig is an officially waymarked hiking trail in Fränkische Schweiz connecting five breweries in the Gräfenberg and Weißenohe area: Klosterbrauerei Weißenohe, Brauerei Friedmann, Lindenbräu, Brauereigasthaus Hofmann and Elch-Bräu. The one-way route is 10 km; the starting point is Weißenohe station, reached from Nuremberg by the Gräfenbergbahn in around 40 minutes.
Route Data
- Distance: 10 km (one-way) or 18–20 km (round trip)
- Difficulty: Easy to moderate
- Duration: Half day to full day depending on variant
- Start: Bahnhof Weißenohe
- Access: Gräfenbergbahn RB21 from Nuremberg, approx. 40 minutes
- Season: Check brewery opening times before going
- Waymarking: Officially marked, own Fünf-Seidla-Steig logo (green)
What Is the Fünf-Seidla-Steig?
The Fünf-Seidla-Steig is a registered trademark of the five breweries it connects. It passes through the southern Fränkische Schweiz in the Gräfenberg and Weißenohe municipalities, through forest and meadow landscapes, with brewery inns as stopping points. "Fünf Seidla" — five half-litres of beer — is both the name and the programme.
The route is officially waymarked to the standards of the German Hiking Association (Deutscher Wanderverband) and directly accessible from Nuremberg by the Gräfenbergbahn. That makes it one of the most accessible beer hiking routes in Franconia.
The Five Breweries
Stop 1 — Klosterbrauerei Weißenohe
Starting point and first stop. The brewery traces its origins to the former Benedictine monastery of St. Bonifatius. Family-owned since 1827, it continues the monastic brewing tradition. Specialities include a Zwickel Pils and seasonal beers. Located directly at Weißenohe station.
Stop 2 — Brauerei Friedmann, Gräfenberg
In Gräfenberg. A family brewery of several generations. The Biergarten zum Bergschlösschen offers a view over the Franconian landscape — worth the climb up the steps in fine weather. The Bräustüberl is inside the town if the weather is bad.
Stop 3 — Lindenbräu, Gräfenberg
Also in Gräfenberg, near the railway station. Family-run, with a beer garden under a linden tree. For those taking the shorter route (10 km), the Gräfenberg station is also the return departure point for the Gräfenbergbahn back to Nuremberg.
Stop 4 — Brauereigasthaus Hofmann, Hohenschwärz
Founded 1897, now in the fifth generation. The "Hofmannstropfen" are brewed in a wood-fired kettle using regional ingredients — a dark Export and a naturally cloudy Helles. A seasonal Festbier appears in winter. Brewery tours usually take place on the third Saturday of the month.
Stop 5 — Thuisbrunner Elch-Bräu / Gasthof Seitz, Thuisbrunn
The youngest of the five breweries, founded 2007. Naturally cloudy beers: Dunkel, Pils, Hefeweizen. Beer garden with a view of the Thuisbrunn castle ruin.
Route Variants
Two Options
- One-way (10 km): Weißenohe to Thuisbrunn. Return by Gräfenbergbahn from Gräfenberg or Weißenohe.
- Round trip (18–20 km): From/to Gräfenberg or Weißenohe station. Outward route follows the Frankenweg markings; return follows the Fünf-Seidla-Steig logo.
- Stamp card: Available at the breweries. Collect all five stamps to buy the Fünf-Seidla-Steig beer mug at a discount.
Practical Notes
What You Need to Know
- Check brewery opening times before going: fuenf-seidla-steig.de
- Opening times and holiday closures vary by brewery and season
- Groups of 10+ should reserve in advance
- No car needed: take the Gräfenbergbahn back to Nuremberg
- Proper footwear: the route has ascents and narrow forest paths
- At peak times (Ascension Day, Easter, Whitsun) it can be very busy
Also Worth Knowing: Aufseßer Brauereienweg
The natural follow-up to the Fünf-Seidla-Steig is the Aufseßer Brauereienweg — a 13–14 km circular route through Aufseß, the village that holds the Guinness World Record for the highest brewery density per capita on Earth (four breweries for approx. 1,500 inhabitants, one per 375 people).