Ludwig Cave – Sophien Cave loop from Burg Rabenstein

Hiking trails & Routes

Germany

Bavaria

Upper Franconia

Franconian Switzerland

Landkreis Bayreuth

Ahorntal

Ludwig Cave – Sophien Cave loop from Burg Rabenstein

Moderate

4.9

(293)

960

hikers

Ludwig Cave – Sophien Cave loop from Burg Rabenstein

02:11

7.70km

150m

Hiking

Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required. The starting point of the route is accessible with public transport.

Last updated: June 22, 2026

Tips

Your route passes through a protected area

Please check local regulations for:

Naturpark Fränkische Schweiz - Frankenjura

Waypoints

Start point

Bus stop

Get Directions

1.24 km

Ludwig Cave

Highlight • Cave

Large and freely accessible cave in a beautiful valley.

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1.55 km

Sophien Cave

Highlight • Cave

Nice cave. Especially recommended: Saturdays from about 18 to 20 clock is here "Sophie at Night". Then you can explore the cave yourself. The entire cave is illuminated in beautiful …

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1.69 km

Panoramic view of Rabenstein Castle

Highlight • Viewpoint

Already at the Schweinsberg car park you have a wonderful view of Rabenstein Castle and the Klausstein Chapel from the summit cross.

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2.23 km

Panorama Trail to Rabenstein Castle and Sophien Cave

Highlight • Trail

A very beautiful trail with a primeval forest feel. Visits to Rabenstein Castle and the Sophienhöhle cave are only possible with a guided tour.

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3.41 km

Ailsbach Footbridge

Highlight • Bridge

This small bridge takes every hiker across the Ailsbach with dry feet.

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3.57 km

Schlupflochfelsen walk-through cave

Highlight • Cave

Also known as loophole. It is climbed here on some days.

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4.96 km

Held-Bräu Inn

Highlight • Pub

Since 1680, beer has been brewed in this family business. In addition to beer classics, you can also bock beer and - during the Christmas season - wheat bock and …

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7.14 km

Schneiderkammer Ascent

Highlight • Climb

steep climb to the Schneiderkammer

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7.70 km

End point

Bus stop

Way Types & Surfaces

Way Types

5.24 km

1.17 km

495 m

447 m

338 m

Surfaces

2.91 km

1.96 km

1.77 km

469 m

338 m

237 m

Elevation

Nothing selected – click and drag below to see the stats for a specific part of the route.

Highest point (410 m)

Lowest point (360 m)

Weather

Friday 11 September

21°C

8°C

30 %

Additional weather tips

Max wind speed: 11.0 km/h

to get more detailed weather forecasts along your route

Comments

September 22, 2021,Sagen und Legenden um Burg Rabenstein ... Genießertour durch die Fränkische Schweiz

Today it was time again for a tour from the history section. After Jana and the children visited a friend in Busbach, I took a spontaneous vacation and volunteered as a driver * cough *, Shakespeare and I had almost 2 1/2 hours to hike. After the weather was so great, we went to Oberailsfeld and on towards Rabenstein Castle.

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June 16, 2023,Langenloh, Höhlentour, Burg Rabenstein, Ahorntal,🍺 Brauerei Held 🤩🤩

Did one of the most beautiful 🤩 hikes in Franconian Switzerland today. Here one highlight chases the next 😃
Countless caves in the cliffs, whereby the Sophienhöhle is an affordable show cave.
The Ludwigshöhle, Rennerfels floor cave,
Schlupflochfelsen, Schneiderkammer and Schneiderloch, Neumühlhöhle and the many unnamed caves want to be explored extensively first. Forehead or halogen lamp 🔦 are indispensable. …

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August 30, 2024,Von Oberailsbach auf dem Promenadenweg nach Burg Rabenstein

A wonderful hike through the "Franconian region", particularly doable on hotter days, as the paths mostly lead through dense forest. Imposing rock formations keep appearing along the way, but the many caves are particularly impressive. The Ludwigshöhle alone is worth a visit because of its size.

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May 16, 2022,Ritter ⚔️🛡und Helden 🍺 Bierwanderung 🍺

This hike can only offer one brewery along the route, but it is certainly one of the most scenic routes in Franconian Switzerland. It begins at the Schweinsberg car park. From there, follow the signs towards Sophienhöhle.

The Promenadenweg (marking: green chess piece) takes you past the cave and Rabenstein Castle through the Ailsbach valley to the Rennerfelsen. There you …

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September 6, 2025,Burg Rabenstein an der Wiesent 60 ster Geburtstag Isolde

A beautiful tour from Waischenfeld (the actual start was at the Heckel Brewery with tasting 😉). A short drive to the parking lot, and then we went down a narrow path to the main road, and from there a short stretch to the Ludwigshöhle cave, then down again and on the other side of the valley via the Sophienhöhle cave …

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June 4, 2022,Entlang des Ailsbachtals - vorbei an Sophienhöhle 🦇 und Burg Rabenstein ⚔️ zur Brauerei Held 🍺 - mehr sag ich nicht... 🤤

Thanks @Söhni 🏃 for the tip about the knight and beer hike. 👋 komoot.de/tour/771870958?ref=atd
The Promenadenweg is certainly one of the most beautiful routes in the Franconian region, which winds along many large (Sophienhöhle, Ludwigshöhle) and countless smaller caves on mostly small paths up and down through lush green forests - and again and again the forest offers wonderful views …

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October 9, 2021,Oberailsfeld, Burg Rabenstein, Ludwigshöhle, Schneiderloch und im Ailsbachtal zurück

The Ailsbach Valley is always delightful with its cliffs, caves and castles rising steeply to the left and right. Today we 'enjoyed' Franconian up and down again and you can find that here without a question. Start in Oberailsfeld (good hero brewery🍺) and well marked or with komoot it goes towards Burg Rabenstein / Sophienhöhle. Beautiful forest, lots of rocks …

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