Location: Information board just before the entrance to Zell a. Ebersberg at the end/beginning of Schlangenweg.
The forest conservation area has an area of around 847 hectares. This area connects the two natural forest reserves Böhlgrund and Mordgrund.
Designated in 2020, it is one of the largest, contiguous and most important protected areas in Bavaria.
Geographical location:
The forest conservation area extends along the northeastern slope of the Steigerwald and includes a large part of the course of the Stöckigsbach stream, which flows northeast to northeast into the Main. The natural forest lies between the towns of Zell am Ebersberg, Eschenau, Fabrikschleichach, Oberschleichach and Neuschleichach, and includes several forest areas.
This includes the Neuhauser Forest, the Zeller Forest-West and the Fabrik-Schleichacher Forest-Northeast, formerly unincorporated areas. The Neuhauser Forest in the municipality of Knetzgau and the district of Zell am Ebersberg are located within the natural forest.
The entire area belongs to the FFH area of beech forests and meadow valleys of the North Steigerwald and to the bird sanctuary of the Upper Steigerwald.
This protected area includes striking mountains such as the Große Knetzberg (488 m above sea level),
the Kleine Knetzberg (447 m above sea level),
the Hollacher Berg (409 m above sea level) and the Treuberg (383 m above sea level).
In addition to the Stöckigsbach, the Marsbach, the Torwiesenbach, the Eisenbach, the Farnbach and the Schwarzbächlein also flow through the area.
To the south, the natural forests of Wotansborn and Kleinengelein and the Weilersbachtal nature reserve border the natural forest. To the east of the area rises the Aurach, a tributary of the Regnitz, and to the west lies the Neuhaus forest house.
The highest point in the Knetzberge-Böhlgrund natural forest is the Große Knetzberg with a height of 488 m above sea level. The lowest point is near the end of the forest just before Zell am Ebersberg at a height of 269 m above sea level.
Characteristics:
The Knetzberge-Böhlgrund natural forest is a particularly species-rich forest that offers space for numerous tree species
such as beech, sessile oak, hornbeam, small-leaved linden, large-leaved linden, ash, sycamore maple, Norway maple and bird cherry.
In addition, rarities such as wild service tree, service tree and European white elm are also represented.
The forest is home to various forest types such as woodrush-beech forests, woodruff-beech forests, bedstraw-oak-hornbeam forests, streamside alder-ash forests, ravine forests and spring forests.
Numerous animal and plant species live in the forest, including the rare velvety chanterelle, fire salamander, yellow-bellied toad, red-headed net beetle, black-footed bark beetle, the rare small amber snail, the wild cat, various forest bats such as the barbastelle bat, Bechstein's bat, greater mouse-eared bat and many others, the stock dove, the black, middle, grey and green woodpecker, the collared and pied flycatcher, the golden oriole, the kingfisher, the honey buzzard, the black stork and rare forest mosses such as the green broom moss. Tourism and accessibility: The Knetzberge-Böhlgrund natural forest offers the opportunity for various hikes due to the existing forest paths. The Steigerwald Panorama Trail long-distance hiking trail and the Schlangenweg lead through the large protected area. There is also a small playground surrounded by the natural forest at the Marswald car park. Furthermore, a tree trail leads from the Eschenau municipal forest to Neuhaus, a farmstead where the Knetzberge-Böhlgrund natural forest begins.
The large conservation area can be reached from almost all sides. To the south of the area is the Wotansborn car park, which lies between the Wotansborn and Knetzberge-Böhlgrund natural forests.
To the west are the Knetzberge and Großer Knetzberg car parks.
To the east of the conservation area is the Marswald car park and
to the north is the Zell am Main sports field car park.
The Knetzberge-Böhlgrund natural forest is signposted on the hiking trails.