Castles, legends & dreamlike panoramas in the Altmühltal Nature Park

Medieval castle ruins, fascinating forests and impressive views, all this and much more awaits you in the Altmühltal Nature Park, one of the largest of its kind in Germany. In this Collection, we present five of the most beautiful circular Tours in this wonderful holiday region to the south of Nuremberg and north of Munich. The Altmühltal region will inspire you with its green landscapes, through which the Altmühl River flows from its source in the Frankenhöhe mountains, through the Franconian Alps, to Kelheim, a town on the Danube near Regensburg – there’s plenty to discover.

Following the Castle Trail near Kinding municipality, you walk along medieval paths and explore fairytale castle ruins and beautiful forests. The Eichstätt Dream Loop takes you through the impressive Field of Figures in the Hessental Valley and reveals wonderful views of Eichstätt and Willibaldsburg Castle. Loop 8 takes you around the town of Pappenheim and visits Pappenheim Castle. You also have the chance to stroll along beautiful tree-lined avenues near the village of Greding, enjoying great views over the Schwarzach Valley.

Since all of these varied routes are circular, you can choose where you start each Tour. You find recommendations for the best starting point and beautiful highlights in the Tour descriptions. Each route is 10 to 20 kilometres (6 to 12 miles), or slightly more. You rarely climb more than 500 metres (1,640 feet) in one day. Thanks to the well-maintained hiking trails, you don’t have to be a mountaineer to enjoy these exhilarating routes. You can look forward to an unforgettable break in one of the most beautiful nature parks in Germany – the Altmühltal welcomes you!