Altmühltal

Deeply incised valleys, prehistoric reef rocks and juniper heaths give the Altmühltal its distinctive character. The Altmühl flows through this landscape, which can be explored in many different ways: on long-distance hiking and cycling routes, on a boating trip or by taking in striking rock formations and traces of Roman times. Which holiday apartment suits your trip therefore also depends on whether you mainly want to spend time outdoors or combine nature and culture.

Exploring on foot, by bike or on the water

The Altmühltal Panorama Trail runs for 200 kilometres along the Altmühl from Gunzenhausen to Kelheim, crossing the Altmühltal Nature Park. The German Hiking Association has certified it as a “Quality Trail Wanderbares Deutschland”. If you want to combine your trip with hiking, you’ll find a route whose length and course extend through several places in the nature park. This distinguishes it from the Altmühltal Cycle Route, which also runs from Gunzenhausen to Kelheim for around 160 kilometres, following the river through the nature park.

From spring to autumn, leisure buses and VGN leisure routes operate in the Altmühltal Nature Park on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays. They have bicycle trailers and transport cyclists and their bikes back to their starting point. If you plan to include a cycling tour in your trip, this return option may influence how you plan your day; however, the buses operate only at the times stated.

You can also experience the landscape over a longer distance on the Altmühl: the boating route runs for just under 120 kilometres between Gunzenhausen and Dietfurt/Töging through the nature park. The river’s gentle current is suitable for beginners and experienced boaters alike; it is considered an ideal river for families. This offers another way to travel, alongside hiking and cycling, with time on the water at its heart.

Discover rock formations and prehistoric times

The “Twelve Apostles” are a striking sight: towering dolomite cliffs between Solnhofen and Eßlingen. They can be seen by boaters on the Altmühl, cyclists on the Altmühltal Cycle Route and hikers on routes around Solnhofen. The nature reserve around the cliffs was designated in 1984 and covers about 15.2 hectares. Extensive semi-dry grasslands lie on the limestone plateau and give way to open juniper and pine forests.

The Altmühltal Dinosaur Museum offers another encounter with the history of the Earth: an approximately 1.5-kilometre forest trail leads through 400 million years of Earth’s history and past more than 70 lifelike replicas of dinosaurs and other prehistoric animals. Three quarries in the nature park also invite visitors to search for fossils. You can choose from different nature and prehistory experiences for your stay, whether it’s a walk through the rocky landscape, the museum trail or a fossil hunt.

Roman heritage and Baroque art

The Upper Germanic-Raetian Limes, once the boundary of the Roman Empire and now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, runs through the middle of the Altmühltal Nature Park. The Roman fort of Castra Vetoniana is located above Pfünz. Its north gate, a corner tower and part of the defensive wall have been reconstructed. Since July 2006, the Roman and Bavarian Museum at Kipfenberg Castle has housed the regional Limes information point, which provides information about the Roman sights of the World Heritage Site in the nature park.

Weltenburg Abbey also brings together history and architecture. Founded around the year 600, it is considered Bavaria’s oldest monastic settlement. Its abbey church stands at the entrance to the Danube Gorge. The Asam brothers built and decorated it under the abbot Maurus Bächl from 1716 to 1739. It is one of the great achievements of European Baroque art. If you’re interested in Roman history, you can explore these sites alongside the natural attractions; the abbey church offers a different cultural focus for those interested in Baroque art.

Regional flavours

“Altmühltaler Lamm” is also part of the region’s distinctive character: many innkeepers in the nature park serve lamb specialities under this brand name. If you’d like to explore regional cuisine as well as hiking, the water and culture during your trip, this speciality adds a culinary dimension to the Altmühltal experience.

More destinations: Frankenwald, Neu-Ulm, Kulmbach, Amberg-Sulzbach, Bavarian Forest, Erding, Lower Bavaria, Nuremberg Land.

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