In the small Bavarian town of Furth im Wald, a knight battles a fire-breathing dragon every summer — and this isn't just any pageant, it's Germany's oldest local theater tradition, dating back to 1590. If you're after a hiking destination with a serious dose of history and spectacle, Furth im Wald delivers something you won't find anywhere else.

The town sits on the edge of the Bavarian Forest, close to the Czech border, surrounded by gentle wooded hills typical of the region. During the Festival Week in August, the whole town transforms: over a thousand participants in period costumes and 250 horses parade through the streets, culminating in a dramatic performance featuring a colossal robotic dragon. Outside festival season, Furth im Wald makes a peaceful base for hikes into the surrounding Bavarian Forest, with rolling green ridgelines and quiet forest trails.

How to get there

• Furth im Wald town center — reachable by car or train, a walk through the historic center takes about 1-2 hours, easy difficulty
• Surrounding Bavarian Forest trails accessible from parking areas on the town's edge — routes ranging from easy to moderate

Practical information

• The Drachenstich spectacle takes place every year in August during Festival Week
• The dragon Tradinno is the world's largest four-legged walking robot (Guinness World Record, 2012), 15.5 m long and weighing 11 tons
• Visit the German Dragon Museum and the Dragon Cave in town
• Listed on the Federal Register of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Germany since 2018

Fun fact: the dragon can technically run at up to 12 km/h, but local safety rules cap it at a leisurely 1.8 km/h — better safe than singed!