Pleasure route on historic paths

This route begins at Rathausplatz in Ingolstadt. Before following the signs of the Schuttertal bike path via Gerolfing, Dünzlau, Egweil, and Nassenfels with its impressive castle into the Urdonautal, a visit to the Ingolstadt City Museum is worthwhile. The museum, housed in a neoclassical fortress building, provides an overview of the natural landscape and settlement history of the region. In the Urdonautal, the route leads northward along the Amper-Altmühl bike path towards Wellheim and Konstein.

A first impression of the long and diverse cultural history is already gained here: Wellheim Castle is a former Romanesque fortress built in a prominent location on a rugged rock formation above the market town of Wellheim, abandoned and partially demolished in the 18th century. At the castle site, another natural element that shapes the Altmühltal landscape can be observed: the partly spectacular limestone rock formations. A few hundred meters further from Wellheim, you encounter a particularly impressive representative, the so-called Dohlenfelsen, a popular spot for hobby climbers in summer.

The pleasure route continues through the broad Wellheim dry valley, which only hints at the magnitude of the ancient Urdonau that once flowed here. Also interesting is the natural forest reserve on the rock-strewn southeast slope of the Urdonautal opposite the village of Ried, featuring beech primeval forest. In Dollnstein, you meet the nationally known and popular Altmühltal bike path. Before the route follows it to Eichstätt, a detour to the Altmühlzentrum Burg Dollnstein with information about castle history and the river and landscape history should not be missed.

Shortly after Dollnstein, you pass the impressive castle rock. Like the Dohlenfelsen, it is also a climbing hotspot and one of the most beautiful Bavarian geotopes. Following the gentle flow of the Altmühl, the route then continues to Eichstätt, where the Jura Museum on Willibaldsburg high above the bishop's town offers a detailed insight into the landscape history of the Altmühltal with its impressive exhibits. Numerous cafés and restaurants in the baroque old town of Eichstätt invite you to rest before the route continues to Pfünz. In Pfünz, the partially reconstructed Roman fort “Castra Vetoniana” shows how the Romans left their mark on the region—significantly so, since the area was a border region between the Roman Empire and northern Germania. From Pfünz, a slight ascent must first be climbed before returning to Ingolstadt via Hofstetten, Böhmfeld, and Gaimersheim. The route passes Pius Park between Gaimersheim and Ingolstadt, the site of the Bavarian State Garden Show 2020.

On the A9 to the Ingolstadt-Süd exit, then towards the city center, parking available at parking lot and/or underground garages Theater-East and Theater-West

By long-distance trains of DB (Deutsche Bahn) or the local trains of DB, agilis, or the Bayerische Oberlandbahn to the main station Ingolstadt, then continue by bus or bike to the city center, to the Tourist Information at Rathausplatz, Moritzstraße 19.

Parking lot Theater-East, underground garages Theater-East and Theater-West

More information about the bike tour:

Pleasure route on historic paths

Visiting the abandoned quarry at Marienberg (above Eichstätt) is a special experience. The so-called "Matterhorn" offers a wonderful view of the surroundings, and treasures from the past still lie dormant in the quarry heaps...