Immerse yourself in river history – Altmühltal Geo cycle path loop

On the 55 kilometer long round trip “Immersion in the history of the river” through Eichstätt, Nassenfels, Wellheim and Dollnstein you will discover rock formations, castles, river valleys and karst springs. The beautiful baroque town of Eichstätt, or more precisely the train station there, is your starting point. Before you start cycling, it's a good idea to visit the Altmühltal Nature Park information center to get a first insight into the nature and culture of the region.

At the beginning you go along the Altmühl before a short climb takes you up to Adelschlag. In Nassenfels the tour takes you directly past the impressive moated castle. For the next few kilometers you are in the picturesque Schuttertal and at the same time on the trail of the river's history: When the Urschutter once diverted water from the Urdonau, it changed its course and the Urdonautal between Wellheim and Dollnstein dried up. Today the impressive rocks formed by the ancient river still remain.

After a short detour into the Altmühltal, we head uphill to the quarry area around Schernfeld. If you want to go fossil hunting yourself, it's worth stopping at the visitor quarry on Blumenberg. There are numerous finds on display in the nearby Bergér Museum. After a longer descent, the tour ends in Eichstätt. If you still have energy left, take a detour up to Willibaldsburg with the Eichstätt Jura Museum, where, among other things, an original “Archaeopteryx” awaits visitors.