Ten of Beilngries’ original fifteen medieval city towers have been preserved; construction began in 1407. The Beilngries town walk takes one hour and covers two kilometres. Water also shapes the town: Beilngries is surrounded by the Altmühl, Sulz, Main-Danube Canal and Ludwig Canal. The town’s history and waterways thus represent distinct aspects of this destination.
City Towers and Sacred Buildings
With its brightly glazed tower spires, the parish church of St. Walburga forms a striking centre within the circle traced by the historic towers of Beilngries’ old town. The Church of Our Lady offers a different architectural accent: this Rococo building is considered the town’s most important sacred building. Construction began in 1753 under Maurizio Pedetti, the Prince-Bishop’s court director of building. The medieval towers and the later Rococo church make different periods in the town’s history visible.
Waterways and the History of Technology
On the outskirts of Beilngries, three harbour structures were built between 1836 and 1845 as components of the Ludwig–Danube–Main Canal: a two-storey harbourmaster’s house, a goods shed and a quay wall with an iron crane. The water theme thus extends from the surrounding landscape to the history of technical infrastructure. The natural landscape around the town was also shaped by the power of water.
Since 2017, the “Erlebniswelt Wasserstraße” information and visitor centre has been located at the Gösselthalmühle in Beilngries, directly on the Main-Danube Canal. It provides information about waterways, technology, shipping and nature. Visitors can explore topics related to shipping and waterways at interactive stations. Here, the technical and natural aspects of water come together.
Boating, a Walk and Geology
If you’d like to experience the waterside landscape from different perspectives, you can explore the Altmühl by boat from Beilngries. Another option is the Wünschelrutenweg: this short walk around Beilngries offers views across the town, the Main-Danube Canal and the Altmühltal. The two options differ in form: one takes you out on the water, while the other leads to viewpoints along a walking trail.
The “Malmschichten am Arzberg” geological site offers a look into a much longer timescale. The walls of the former quarry are 70 metres high; the quarry documents a deposition period of around five million years. This gives visitors a different way to experience the landscape than its buildings and water infrastructure: here, the focus is on geological strata and how long they took to form.
Hirschberg Castle and the Toy Museum
Hirschberg Castle lies northwest of Beilngries. Its present appearance preserves several elements of the former castle complex: the castle wall, Grafenbau, keep and castle chapel. In Beilngries, the toy museum displays old toys of all kinds. The Beilngries-Kinding Cultural History Association (Kulturhistorischer Verein Beilngries-Kinding e. V.) brought the pieces together and assembled them into an exhibition. They include a large-scale model railway layout and special play areas where children can play. The castle complex and the museum offer different points of interest: preserved castle features on the one hand, and a collection with play areas on the other.
Beilngries offers more than a single focus to help you plan your trip: you can explore the town’s history, discover waterways and technology, or turn your attention to the landscape and geology. The town walk, at one hour and two kilometres, is a clearly defined starting point; the other themes offer different possible focuses for your stay.
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Return to the main travel overview: Eichstätt.
