Nature and culture in the Altmühl Valley in Bavaria – hiking in Eichstätt

The beautiful circular hike begins near the Eichstätt Stadt train station. To start off, you first climb through shady forest, then over open meadows up to the Frauenberg. Once at the top, you cross the glider airfield (please bypass during flight operations). Then it goes through the forest past the quarry back into the valley.On the other side of the valley, beautiful paths await you that lead you slightly uphill through the wonderful nature of the quiet forests. After you have passed the old wayside cross, you will soon reach the highest point of the hike.From here you descend to Wasserzell before you start the next ascent, which leads you back to the Frauenberg. This time you walk on the mountain but along the edge of the forest and enjoy unique views of the Altmühltal and Eichstätt.After you have made a stop at the Frauenberg chapel, you hike back into the valley, where you reach the starting point of the circular route again.If the 16-kilometer loop is a little too long for you, we recommend our shortcut. After crossing under the train tracks you come to a parking lot for hikers. Instead of turning sharply left here, you can also follow a signposted path that branches off half-left. This shortens the lap to just under nine kilometers.

The exciting themed Eichstätter Fossil Trail starts at the train station. The first of six stations awaits you here, where you can get to know the natural beauties, quarries and museums along the fossil trail better.From the starting point you hike up to Willibaldsburg, where the Jura Museum is located. Here you can admire exciting fossils, including an original of the ancient bird Archeopteryx.Then you stroll down to the Altmühl and cross it. A steep climb awaits on the other side that will take you to the fossil record. You can look for fossils here.You pass the Fossil Museum Bergér and another quarry before you descend back into the Altmühltal. Here you hike a short distance along the picturesque river and then turn off towards Eichstätt. You pass the Willibaldsburg and come back to the starting point of the hike.

The promising hike begins at Eichstätt Stadt train station. At the beginning of the hike you cross the river and cross the baroque old town and can let the beautiful buildings and squares affect you. You hike on the other side of the village up to the panorama path.It leads you high above the Altmühltal in a semicircle around the city. You are sure to have fantastic views here. Here you can take a break and enjoy the view. From Schönblick you climb back down into the valley to immediately climb up to Willibaldsburg on the other side of the valley.The unique circular route around the castle rewards you with views of the mighty entrenchments. If you have a little more time with you, a visit to the Jura Museum is also worthwhile. Afterwards you hike further up to the Frauenberg.On the way you will pass the Frauenberg chapel and walk through a beautiful avenue of chestnut trees. From the ridge you can enjoy wide views of the Altmühltal and the wonderful, open landscape. From Frauenberg you then descend through the Eichstätter Auwäldchen to Kanapeeweg back into the city to be back at the starting point at the train station. It tastes good in the city with a cozy stop.

The TraumSchlaufe begins at the hiking car park near Landershofen between Eichstätt and Pfünz. Right at the beginning you hike up to the figure field, which is in a valley basin. It is a memorial by the artist Alois Wünsche-Mitterecker against war and violence.With many impressions in your luggage, you continue uphill across fields and meadows. You can enjoy wonderful views over the wide landscape. On a wooded high plateau you walk over a historic crossroads, which is lined with old stone columns and mighty trees.Finally, the path leads you along the edge of the forest, where you can once again enjoy fantastic views. Then you dive back into the quiet nature of the forest and descend towards Pfünz.Down here in the Altmühltal you hike along the edge of the forest back to the parking lot, the starting point of the TraumSchlaufe.

The starting point for the hike on the forest nature trail in the KultURwald is the car park in Rosental. From here you hike on flat paths into the forest.On eleven boards you can find out about the history and nature of the Eichstätter alluvial forest along the nature trail. There are also many interactive elements waiting for you to take part.The circular route meanders through the unspoilt forest on natural paths. The first half of the hike is easy but steadily uphill.Then you hike back to the starting point on gently sloping terrain. On the way you have beautiful views of the Altmühltal and Eichstätt from the edge of the forest.

On this route through the KultURwald, you go on a leisurely stroll in the footsteps of the Eichstatt Illuminati Ludwig Graf von Cobenzl.It starts on Ingolstädter Straße between the Cobenzl Schlössel and the Siechhof. Here you climb the stairs into the forest and make a detour to the pavilion of the Cobenzl Schlösschen right at the beginning.Then you hike on natural paths past the Cobenzl-Loch cave and continue through the wonderful silence of the forest. On the way you will discover other relics from Cobenzl's time.After about a kilometer you will come across KultURwald Route 1. If you want, you can extend your hike on this route here. Otherwise you walk through the forest back to the starting point on Ingolstädter Straße.

The beautiful city hike through the baroque town of Eichstätt begins at the cathedral. To start with, you circle the building in the direction of Residenzplatz with the Marian column and through the beautiful cloister you finally reach Ostenstraße.You follow her to the summer residence, where you make a detour to the courtyard garden. Then you walk past the Ostenfriedhof, at the end of which you will see the beautiful former monastery church Notre Dame du Sacré Coeur. After visiting the impressive dome and the Altmühltal Nature Park information center, the circular route takes you past the cathedral to the market square.It is worth taking a leisurely break here, during which you can let the ambience of the large square affect you. You can either sit down on one of the benches or treat yourself to refreshments in a café or restaurant.Then you hike on to the Sankt Walburg monastery before the route leads you back to the cathedral, where the tour ends.