In the middle of Bavaria lies the nature park Altmühltal, one of the most popular holiday areas of South Germany. Unique natural spectacles and valuable landscape areas are conserved here and several attractions are created for visitors. En-route with a boat, a bike or on foot there are magnificent palaces, sublime castles and wonderful churches and monasteries to admire. Admirable are also the many Latin evidences in Altmühltal: Estates, castles and watchtowers were built up like they were standing once at the Limes. Quarries and the museum of fossils in the naturel park take you farther back in history.
Impressive Jura Mountains lime rocks, gentle river meanders or sunny valleys – the land of Altmühltal has several faces. The most beautiful and known are the Danube resurgence between Kelheim and Monastry Weltenburg, the group of rocks called „12 Apostle” in Esslingen near Solnhofen and the natural monument „Steinerne Rinne“ near Wolfsbronn. The examples emphasize: The landscape is a valuable heritage - and their beauty alone is task enough to protect it.
Nowadays this region is widely known especially as a cyclist's and hiker's paradise. Here in the Altmühltal Nature Park a principle has always been respected: "Enjoy nature – but only moving along certain paths always in harmony with nature, the region's landscapes and its animal and plant life". That's why the park's environmental centres regularly organise guided excursions and tours on environmental issues.
50th anniversary Altmühl Nature Park
The park is located in an area where during the Jurassic period waves broke on the shores of a shallow sea. It was a sub-tropical climate and Archaeopterix, the predecessor of modern birds, ruled the sky. Archaeopterix and his contemporaries – predatory, fish, and other flying dinosaurs, ammonites and small crocodiles – are still present today: their fossils have been discovered in rock quarries throughout the Altmühl River Valley. The distinct rock formations that rise from the valley floor of the Altmühl River, are also witnesses of that time on earth. They are travel companions to hikers, bicyclists and paddlers recreating on the Altmühl Bicycle Trail, the Altmühl Panorama Trail and the water adventure trail along the river. Other fixtures along the way are airy beech forests and steep hillsides with species diverse juniper heaths.Highlights:
- Upper-Germanic Roman Limes - UNESCO world heritage reminiscent of Roman times
- Danube Gorge at Weltenburg and Welternburg abbey
- Hall of Liberation nearby Kelheim
- Regensburg - Best preserved medieval city in Germany with vital urban life
- Archaeology Park - journey back in time to the world of the Neandertals and Celts
