Waldershof

Waldershof is a town in the district of Tirschenreuth, in Bavaria, Germany. It is situated 22 km northwest of Tirschenreuth, and 3 km southwest of Marktredwitz.

Geography

The 60 square kilometer City of Waldershof is bounded on the North by the City of Marktredwitz. The boundary line between the two cities is also the border for the counties of Tirschenreuth and Wunsiedel as well as the regional zones of the Upper Palatinate and Upper Franconia.

Since the completion of the municipality reform, the population has grown to approximately 5,000 inhabitants. Due to their locations, the unincorporated portions of the community qualify as vacation spots, this is especially true for Shurbach, Kossain and Rodenzenreuth which are found at base of the Kossaine and Hohenhard, Poppenreuth and Helmbrechts which are situated on the north side of the Steinwald. These locations are ideal launching spots for extensive hiking and for participation in winter sports.

History

The first documented reference to the town of “Waltershove” can be found in a certificate from July 1, 1263 that was written in Latin. The certificate is part of the registry of deeds from the Waldsassen monastery and is currently preserved in the main city archives of Munich. This document shows Count Friedrich von Leuchtenberg (bei Weiden/Opf.), with the agreement of his brother Gebhardt, transferred ownership of the castle in Waldershof which he occupied to the monastery in Waldsassen. The castle was built in 1100 and served as the starting point for the settlement. The builder remains unknown. In 1463, Abbot Nikolaus IV of Waldsassen granted the village of Waldershof market rights. The castle and market continued to belong to the monastery of Waldsassen until secularization in 1802.