Waldershof

Waldershof
Coat of arms
Waldershof
Location of Waldershof within Tirschenreuth district
Coordinates: 49°58′N 12°4′E / 49.967°N 12.067°E / 49.967; 12.067Coordinates: 49°58′N 12°4′E / 49.967°N 12.067°E / 49.967; 12.067
Country	Germany
State	Bavaria
Admin. region	Oberpfalz
District	Tirschenreuth
Government
• Mayor	Friederike Sonnemann (SPD)
Area
• Total	60.40 km2 (23.32 sq mi)
Elevation	546 m (1,791 ft)
Population (2015-12-31)
• Total	4,284
• Density	71/km2 (180/sq mi)
Time zone	CET/CEST (UTC+1/+2)
Postal codes	95679
Dialling codes	09231
Vehicle registration	TIR
Website	www.waldershof.de

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.

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.

Most parts of Waldershof belong to the nature park Steinwald. The climate is unique to this region and has Alpine characteristics. Area's near or in the forest are sometimes not snow-free until the middle of May. Giant snowdrifts and severe snow storms render paths and trails impassable in winter. A short spring follows the long and harsh winter; summer has more precipitation and is followed by a mild and fine autumm. Frost is expected until Pentecost. Average annual temperatures lie between 4 and 5 °C, average precipitation is about 15 cm.

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.

The present look of the castle provides only an incomplete view of the original size and appearance. This huge building was covered by a pond and creek in the east as well as the south and by ringwalls on the north side. The massive, 1823 ablated watchtower at the northeast corner of the castle gave a wide view into the valley of Waldershof.