At the beginning of the Steinach valley is the "cutting mill at the blast furnace". Since 1868 it has been used to cut beams or boards from so-called "blocks". "Blöcher" are unprocessed trunks that come from the densely wooded Franconian Forest. The small sawmill was built because a hurricane in the Franconian Forest cut down countless giant trees. In 1982, students and professors at the Düsseldorf University of Applied Sciences began to renovate the saw so that it is fully functional again today and is available for tours with its original equipment.

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Andrea und Huskys 🐺

November 21, 2025

Hiking

There used to be up to 150 sawmills along the streams in the Franconian Forest valleys. The sawmill at the blast furnace in the Steinach Valley ceased operation in 1980.

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Andrea und Huskys 🐺

September 9, 2023

Hiking

In the Franconian Forest valleys, water power was not only used to drive hammer mills and grain mills. Like pearls on a string, up to 150 sawmills once lined the streams. The old sawmill at the blast furnace in the Steinach Valley ceased operation in 1980.

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Best routes near ⚙️ Saw Mill at the Hochofen

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1. ⚙️ Saw Mill at the Hochofen – 🏛️ Nordeck Castle Ruins loop from Stadtsteinach

14.1km

04:05

340m

Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

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2. ⚙️ Saw Mill at the Hochofen – Steinach Gorge loop from Stadtsteinach

19.3km

05:35

490m

Hard hike. Very good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

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3. ⚙️ Saw Mill at the Hochofen – Steinach Gorge loop from Stadtsteinach

19.3km

05:35

490m

Hard hike. Very good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

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Informations

Elevation 400 m

Weather

Friday 13 March

10°C

2°C

86 %

Additional weather tips

Max wind speed: 14.0 km/h

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Location: Stadtsteinach, Landkreis Kulmbach, Upper Franconia, Bavaria, Germany

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⚙️ Saw Mill at the Hochofen

1. ⚙️ Saw Mill at the Hochofen – 🏛️ Nordeck Castle Ruins loop from Stadtsteinach

2. ⚙️ Saw Mill at the Hochofen – Steinach Gorge loop from Stadtsteinach

3. ⚙️ Saw Mill at the Hochofen – Steinach Gorge loop from Stadtsteinach

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