In Walting, the range of themes extends from a protected juniper heath to Roman history, educational trails and opportunities for paddling on the AltmĂĽhl. To help you decide on your trip, it is useful to distinguish between the main attractions: are you most interested in the landscape and plants, Roman times, or topics such as wetlands and water? This makes it easy to choose Walting according to the interests you want to shape your trip.
Juniper Heath and Dry Grassland near Gungolding
Gungolding Juniper Heath lies near Gungolding on the northern slope of the AltmĂĽhl Valley. The nature reserve covers around 70 hectares. Its landscape history dates back to the Middle Ages: the heath was created when the forest was cleared and the land grazed by livestock. Its plant life is also part of its character. The dry grasslands are home to spring gentian, fringed gentian and German gentian, among other species. The origins of the landscape and its botanical features go hand in hand here: visitors who appreciate natural history as part of a trip will find a tangible starting point for exploring it in the heath.
Roman Heritage in PfĂĽnz
Fort Vetoniana was established around 90 AD. Today, the north gate, a corner tower and part of the defensive wall have been reconstructed there. The fort is also home to a partially restored Roman guardroom, faithful to the original. The Roman fort Castra Vetoniana in the district of PfĂĽnz is described as a UNESCO World Heritage Site; this designation is associated with the Limes. PfĂĽnz therefore offers several different ways to explore Roman times: from the reconstructed fort and guardroom to the interpretation of history along the Roman educational trail.
The PfĂĽnz Roman educational trail has nine stops around the Roman fort of Vetoniana. The stops explain the history of the fort, as well as the layout of the fort and its camp village with temples and houses. The focus is therefore on both the fort itself and its historical context. The KUNSTamBANDamLIMES installation in Walting takes a different approach: it consists of seven sculptures that visualise the UNESCO World Heritage Upper Germanic-Rhaetian Limes.
Educational Trails, a Tower and the AltmĂĽhl
Visitors interested in wetlands rather than Roman history will find a distinct thematic focus in Pfünz. At twenty stops, the Wetland Educational Trail explains how wetlands develop, their fauna and flora, the Altmühl’s high-water and old river channels, elm disease, and water management measures. The two trails are easy to distinguish by their different numbers of stops and themes: one focuses on the fort and its camp village, while the other covers the landscape and natural features of wetlands.
The Altmühlleiten Wohlfühlpfad (Wellbeing Trail) begins at the car park of the Church of the Assumption in Gungolding. In Rieshofen, the 17-to-18-metre-high keep is all that remains of the former moated castle. You can enjoy a relaxing paddle on the Altmühl through the municipality of Walting. Each of these options has its own focus—from the named starting point of a trail to a surviving structure and an activity on the river—and can be chosen according to your interest in history, nature or water.
Cultural Context in the Wider Destination of Eichstätt
The wider destination of Eichstätt also offers its own cultural and historical attractions. The Jura Museum Eichstätt focuses on fossils from the Solnhofen Plattenkalk limestone; visitors can also see the original Eichstätt specimen of Archaeopteryx. The Willibaldsburg was built in 1355 by Bishop Berthold Burggraf von Zollern and served as the bishop’s residence until 1725. Parts of the 420-metre-long castle that have survived include walls and bastions, the arsenal, the 63-metre-long gate hall, and the Gemmingen building with its two towers. In the 1,500-square-metre bastion garden, the Hortus Eystettensis, destroyed during the Thirty Years’ War, was brought back to life after 400 years; visitors can discover many of the original plant species there. These cultural sites in Eichstätt complement the wider destination, while the juniper heath, the educational trails in Pfünz and activities on the Altmühl are among Walting’s own highlights.
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