An exceptionally well-preserved fortified church and a Late Baroque stone bridge give Kinding two distinctive historical landmarks. There are also several named hiking and cycling routes starting in the town, as well as the seasonal leisure bus service in Altmühltal Nature Park. When planning a stay, you can choose between exploring the town’s history, hiking, a cycling loop and other destinations in the nature park.
Fortified Church and Stone Bridge
The Church of the Nativity of Mary is in the northern part of Kinding, built against the hillside. It is a very well-preserved late-medieval fortification and the largest fortified church in the Diocese of Eichstätt. The cemetery and parish church of the Nativity of Mary are open to visitors free of charge during the day.
The Stone Bridge in Kinding offers another glimpse into the town’s architectural history: the five-arched Late Baroque bridge is made of local Jura limestone. It is also a landmark for hikers: the Kinding Castle Trail starts at a car park opposite the bridge, which was built in 1784.
Hiking and Cycling
The Castle Trail alternates between natural, narrow paths and uphill stretches; it is easy to walk with sturdy footwear. On the edge of the forest stands the Chapel of St. Ottilia, which offers panoramic views of Kinding. The trail also passes the Klause, a rocky cave once inhabited by a hermit, and burial mounds from the Hallstatt period in the area around Kinding.
Not every route starts at the bridge: the Sommerleite walking trail starts at the village fountain in the market square, while the Anlautertal cycling loop starts at the Tourist Information Centre. The AltmĂĽhltal Panorama Trail runs right through Kinding. From the Stone Bridge, hikers can join the long-distance AltmĂĽhltal Panorama Trail and the Castle Hiking Trail.
Nature and Getting There
The Stone Bridge in Kinding is surrounded by protected biotopes. You can watch birds and discover unusual plants there.
Kinding (AltmĂĽhltal) regional railway station is right on the ICE line between Nuremberg and Munich. From May to September, the leisure bus stops at the station and takes day-trippers, and their bicycles if applicable, to various places and sights in AltmĂĽhltal Nature Park. Check the timetable for this seasonal service before travelling.
Cultural Highlights in the Wider Destination of Eichstätt
The wider destination of Eichstätt offers another cultural highlight: the exhibition at the Jura Museum Eichstätt focuses on fossils from the Solnhofen Plattenkalk limestone. The museum also displays the original Eichstätt specimen of Archaeopteryx. Eichstätt is also home to Willibaldsburg Castle, built by Bishop Berthold Burggraf von Zollern in 1355 and used as the bishop’s residence until 1725.
Of the 420-metre-long Willibaldsburg Castle, the walls and bastions, the arsenal, the 63-metre-long gate hall and the Gemmingen building with its two towers have been preserved. The castle is also home to the 1,500 m² Bastion Garden. There, 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.
Discover more destinations: Enkering, Mörnsheim, Großmehring, Gaimersheim, Dollnstein, Pförring, Wellheim, Beilngries
See the wider travel overview: Eichstätt.
