In August 2007, the new long-distance hiking trail Goldsteig, stretching approximately 660 km through the Upper Palatinate and Bavarian Forest, was officially launched. Shortly after its inception, it was awarded the title of Quality Trail by Wanderbares Deutschland and included in the list of Top Trails of Germany. But what is the reason for these honors? The trail itself offers everything a hiker's heart desires, with its idyllic river valleys, scenic mountain peaks, and dark forests and moors, dotted with attractions such as castle ruins, pilgrimage churches, and cultural monuments, and enhanced by local specialties like Zoigel beer or Bärwurz. Starting from Marktredwitz in the north, we traverse the Steinwald with the impressive ruins of Weissenstein, immerse ourselves in the land of a thousand ponds, and follow the Waldnaab with its rocky riverbed. The Leuchtenberg Castle is prominently visible from afar.