Erlebe Deinen ersten Vulkanausbruch!<br>….immer 10 Minuten vor der vollen Stunde
Experience your first volcanic eruption!
….immer 10 Minuten vor der vollen Stunde

Volcano experience Parkstein

Welcome to the website Volcano Experience Museum Parkstein. Directly at the according to Alexander von Humboldt "most beautiful basalt cone in Europe" with its geological and historical attractions you will find our museum. Experience a live volcanic eruption over three floors and learn interesting facts about history, geology and the present.

Fascination Volcano: Our exhibition with live volcanic eruption

The Volcano Museum offers a fascinating insight into geology and the world of volcanoes. The museum consists of three floors, each presenting different aspects of volcanic science and history. The second floor explains basic geological concepts, including the formation of volcanoes, plate displacement, and magmatism. The second floor is devoted to different types of volcanoes and their specific characteristics. Here visitors can explore models of shield volcanoes, stratovolcanoes, and stratovolcanoes. The third floor focuses on the impact of volcanic eruptions on the environment and human society. There are interactive exhibits that illustrate the effects of ash, lava flows, and pyroclastic flows. Visitors to the Volcano Museum are rewarded with a deep understanding of geological processes and the fascinating power of volcanoes.

GEOLOGY: "The volcano emerges".

A volcano in Parkstein? How did it come about and what happened inside the earth? How were the impressive basalt columns formed? On the first floor, visitors learn everything about volcanism in Parkstein. The background to the eruption, solidification and erosion of the basalt cone is conveyed in short clips.

HISTORY: "Local History"

The basalt cone has always shaped the town and its citizens and was the starting point for an impressive local history. On the second floor, visitors experience Parkstein through the ages and immerse themselves in the eventful past with its castle, magistrate, war turmoil and market rights. You will also meet well-known Parkstein personalities, such as the composer Franz Strauß or the notorious robber Franz Troglauer.

PRESENT: "Life at the volcano"

In the roof of the museum, visitors have the opportunity to learn about contemporary life at the foot of the volcanic cone. In addition to entertaining stories about the quality of life of the volcanic inhabitants and the economic power of the market town, the exhibition takes a look at the unique flora and fauna in the nature reserve and locates High Parkstein in the volcanic landscape of Bavaria-Bohemia.

Volcano eruption live

Experience your first volcanic eruption with us!

The highlight in the museum is a Volcanic vent, der sich über alle drei Stockwerke erstreckt. Dank modernster Licht- und Nebeltechnik können Sie immer 10 Minuten vor der vollen Stunde experience the formation of the Parkstein live during a "volcanic eruption".

How does it feel to stand next to a "real" volcano? Only with us can you experience it up close!

Our volcano experience tours

Tour Vulkanerlebnis Parkstein

Starten Sie mit einem Geoparkranger zum majestätischen und landschaftlich beeindruckenden Basaltkegel, dem Geopfad, den Felsenkellern und dem Museum „Vulkanerlebnis Parkstein“, wo Sie hautnah Ihren ersten „Vulkanausbruch“ erleben können. Der Ranger erklärt Ihnen die Geologie und Geschichte von Parkstein und Sie erfahren viele interessante Details zum Thema Vulkanismus.
Number of participants: min. 10 persons
Dauer: 1,5 – 2 Stunden

Team

Our team from the volcano experience Parkstein

steht Ihnen bei Fragen gerne zur Verfügung und freut sich über Ihren Besuch!

Wir bieten zusätzlich Führungen für Gruppen mit Rangern des Geoparks Bayern-Böhmen an und gestalten altersspezifische, museumspädagogische Programme. Gerne erstellen wir für Sie ein individuelles Angebot. Unsere Mitarbeiterinnen beraten Sie gerne!

Sie erreichen uns telefonisch unter Tel. 09602/61639-10 oder per E-Mail: vulkanerlebnis@parkstein.de

Picture from left: Mayor Reinhard Sollfrank, Museum Director Regina Kiermaier, Carmen Busch, Irmi Ritter, Claudia Friedrich, Steffi Götz and Belinda Fischer.

Information

Opening hours

Opening hours museum


Sommersaison: 25. März 2024 –  03. November 202

Wintersaison: 06. November 2023 –  24. März 2024
Dienstag – Sonntag 10 – 17 UhrDonnerstag – Sonntag 13 – 17 Uhr
Monday closedMontag bis Mittwoch geschlossen

Our opening hours during the holidays 

29.03.2024 – KarfreitagFriday closed
31.03.2024 – OstersonntagSundayopened
01.04.2024 – OstermontagMondayopened
01.05.2024 – Tag der ArbeitWednesdayopened
09.05.2024 – Christi HimmelfahrtThursdayopened
19.05.2024 – PfingstsonntagSundayopened
20.05.2024 – PfingstmontagMondayopened
30.05.2024 – FronleichnamThursdayopened
15.08.2024 – Maria HimmelfahrtThursdayopened
03.10.2024 – Tag der deutschen EinheitThursdayopened
01.11.2024 – AllerheiligenFridayclosed
20.11.2024 – Buß- und BettagWednesdayopened
24.12.2024 – Heilig AbendTuesdayclosed
25.12.2024 – 1. WeihnachtsfeiertagWednesdayclosed
26.12.2024 – 2. WeihnachtsfeiertagThursdayclosed
31.12.2024 – SilvesterTuesdayclosed
01.01.2025 – NeujahrWednesdayclosed
06.01.2025 – Heilig-Drei-KönigMondayopened

Opening hours rock cellars

The rock cellars in Kapuzinergasse are open from 08:00 to 20:00.
The basalt cone with viewing platform, the basalt wall and the geological trail are freely accessible all year round. Please note that for the Footpaths on the basalt cone no winter service is available. Entering the paths in snowy and icy conditions is at your own risk.
The stairway west of the basalt wall along the geological trail is suitable for strollers.

Access basalt cone & geological trail

Public WC
at the basalt wall parking lot: daily 7-20 hrs.
barrier-free WC included
Guidance system
For a tour on and around the basalt cone, just follow the gray signs with orange arrows.

Öffnungszeiten Gastronomie

Gastronomie
Wir weisen darauf hin, dass die gastronomischen Möglichkeiten in Parkstein begrenzt sind. Gerne empfehlen wir Ihnen im Voraus die kulinarische Einrichtung für Ihren Besuch, die zu Ihrem geplanten Zeitpunkt geöffnet hat. Selbstverständlich können Sie dort auch Reservierungen oder Vorbestellungen vornehmen.

Admission prices

Admission prices

An overview of our admission prices (as of November 2015):

Adults4,50 €
Preschoolersfree (accompanied by a full-paying adult)
Reduced*3,50 €
Group from 15 adults4,00 € p.P. 
Group from 15 Preschoolers2,50 € p. P.
Group from 15 Schoolchildren3,00 € p. P.
Family card11,00 €
Annual pass adults20,00 €
Annual pass reduced*14,00 €

Reduced*: Receive discounted admission Schoolchildrenstudents and People with disabilities** upon presentation of a valid ID.

You can reach us by phone at (09602) 6 16 39 10 or Email vulkanerlebnis@parkstein.de

** Our museum is barrier-free and has an elevator and a barrier-free WC. The banquet hall and Steinstadl are also accessible barrier-free with an elevator. Guests with handicap can park directly in front of the entrance.

Infopoint

Infopoint

In the cultural and community center Parkstein, which is home to the museum, you can get comprehensive information about the tourist offer of the region at the Infopoint. Here, the Nature Park Northern Upper Palatinate Forest, the Geopark Bavaria-Bohemia as well as the market town Parkstein present themselves with their attractions and comprehensive free brochure material (also in Czech and English).

The Infopoint is open daily from 09:00 to 17:00. It is located in the building next to the museum and is marked with a green "Info sign".

You can get more information about our partners by clicking on the logos:

Directions to Parkstein

Anfahrt
Volcano experience Parkstein
Schlossgasse 5
92711 Parkstein

The market Parkstein is located in the northeast of Bavaria, in the northern Upper Palatinate, near the city of Weiden. The museum is located in the center of the community in second row to the marketplace with access via the Schlossgasse.

Parking is available along the market square 100 meters from the museum. If you want to combine your visit to the museum with a tour of the entire Parkstein Volcano Experience, we recommend the parking lot at the basalt wall. From here you can easily reach the museum on foot in a distance of 300 meters.

Directions from Regensburg/Munich

Directions from Regensburg/Munich
Coming from Regensburg or Munich, the fastest way to reach Parkstein is via the A93. Take the exit Weiden West, continue on the B470 in the direction of Grafenwöhr and after approx. 8 km turn right in the direction of Parkstein. After another 4 km you will reach the beginning of Parkstein. Follow the Pressather Straße and turn right into Klostergasse before the turnoff to Schwand. After you have passed the steep alley, you will find the market place with parking facilities on the left and the museum in the second row of the market place in the Schlossgasse.

Approach from direction Nuremberg

If you are coming from Nuremberg, either take the A9 in the direction of Berlin. Take the Pegnitz/Grafenwöhr exit and drive on the B470 via Pegnitz and Eschenbach in the direction of Weiden i. d. Opf. Approx. 8 km before Weiden turn right in the direction of Parkstein. After another 4 km you will reach the beginning of Parkstein.
Or you can take the A6 from Nuremberg in the direction of Prague, change at the Oberpfälzer Kreuz to the A93 in the direction of Weiden/Hof and then take the Weiden West exit. From here, continue on the B470 in the direction of Grafenwöhr and after about 8 km turn right in the direction of Parkstein. After another 4 km you will reach the beginning of Parkstein. Here you follow the course of Pressather Straße and turn right into Klostergasse before the turnoff to Schwand. After you have passed the steep alley, you will find the market place with parking facilities on the left and the museum in the second row of the market place in the Schlossgasse.

Approach from direction Berlin


Coming from Berlin, take the A93 via Hof, Marktredwitz in the direction of Regensburg. Take the exit Altenstadt, Parkstein and continue on the B22 in the direction of Erbendorf and Bayreuth. Already after 2 km turn left to Parkstein. After another 4 km you are in Parkstein. Follow the course of the Neustädter Straße. At the church turn left into the market place and follow the street to the old town hall. There is parking along the market square. The museum is located in the second row next to the old town hall with access via Schlossgasse.

Arrival by train

From the destination station Weiden you have the possibility to come to Parkstein by bus at certain times. Since there is no bus connection on weekends, you have the possibility to come to the museum with "Henrys-Taxi". The single trip, up to eight persons, is 18 Euro. Henrys-Taxi can be reached under the phone number 0173/9604100.

Partner & Links

Partner & Links

Die folgenden Links führen Sie zu den Webauftritten unserer Partner:

Community of Parksteinwww.parkstein.de
GEOPARK Bayern-Böhmenwww.geopark-bayern.de
Naturpark Nördlicher Oberpfälzer Waldwww.naturpark-now.de
Ferienregion Oberpfälzer Waldwww.oberpfaelzerwald.de
VFMG Bezirksgruppe Weidenwww.vfmg-weiden.de
Heimatverein mit Burgfähnlein e.V.www.burgfaehnlein.de
Basalttheater Parksteinwww.basalttheater.de
GEOZentrum KTBwww.geozentrum-ktb.de

Wir bitten um Verständnis, dass der Museumsbereich für Hunde nicht zugänglich ist. Vielen Dank für Ihre Rücksichtnahme!