In Adelschlag, Roman archaeology, church art and outdoor activities come together. The reconstructed Villa Rustica in Möckenlohe, historic churches in several districts and the Magistrale Route II offer different starting points for planning your trip. If you would like to combine a visit to the villa with a guided tour, allow one to two hours; for hikers, the circular route and its stated length provide a specific route suggestion.
Roman Traces in Möckenlohe
The Villa Rustica in Möckenlohe was reconstructed over its original foundations in 1993. The objects found there are displayed on site. This means the building’s reconstruction and the finds themselves are both central to a visit.
Guided tours of the Villa Rustica can be booked for one to two hours. The price is available on request, and groups are limited to a maximum of 30 people. If you are planning a guided tour, arrange your preferred date when booking: tour times may change. Duration, date and group size therefore give you specific points to consider when planning your visit.
Churches with Different Historical Layers
The churches in Ochsenfeld, Pietenfeld and Möckenlohe preserve different historical details. The Catholic Church of St. Nicholas in Ochsenfeld was built in the Late Gothic period and features several Late Gothic wood carvings. These include a figure of St. Nicholas dating from around 1500.
The parish church of St. Michael in Pietenfeld was built in the Romanesque period; the lower storeys of its church tower also date from that time. In Möckenlohe, the Catholic Church of the Assumption of Mary preserves sections of the medieval wall surrounding the cemetery, as well as a rectangular loophole. Its furnishings also include a massive Early Gothic baptismal font and a Madonna from the early 14th century. Together, these features span Romanesque tower sections, Late Gothic carvings, and medieval architectural elements and artworks.
Hiking, Circular Routes and Finding Your Way
Adelschlag lies on the edge of the Pfünzer Forest. The municipality offers hiking trails and opportunities for horseback riding. One specifically named circular route is the Magistrale Route II: this 18-kilometre themed trail runs in a loop through Adelschlag, between Pietenfeld and Möckenlohe. One of the route’s audio guide stops is “Urelephant Skull Discovery Site, Adelschlag.”
One feature of the trails is important for navigation: the Magistrale I, II and III hiking trails are usually signposted only at junctions. Bear this in mind when planning your route, rather than assuming there will be continuous signage. The Magistrale Route II is clearly defined by its length, endpoints and circular route; the general information about hiking trails and horseback riding describes other activities without specifying a particular route or duration.
More to Discover in the Wider Eichstätt Destination
In the wider Eichstätt destination, the Jura Museum offers a distinct focus: the exhibition centres on fossils from the Solnhofen limestone. The museum also displays the original Eichstätt specimen of Archaeopteryx. The Fossil Trail Eichstätt starts in Eichstätt and is a moderately challenging, nine-kilometre circular trail for families.
The Willibaldsburg also offers several distinct points of interest. Bishop Berthold Burggraf von Zollern had it built in 1355; it served as a bishop’s residence until 1725. Walls and bastions survive from the 420-metre-long castle, along with the armoury, the 63-metre-long gate hall and the Gemmingen Building with its two towers. Cathedral Square lies on the oldest inhabited ground in the city of Eichstätt.
In the 1,500-square-metre bastion garden at Willibaldsburg, the Hortus Eystettensis, destroyed during the Thirty Years’ War, was brought back to life after 400 years. Visitors can discover many of the garden’s original plant species there. For culinary discoveries, Eichstätt’s Genuss-Wirte offer special dishes several times a year under the motto “Eichstätt cooks...”, including flavourful Altmühltal lamb dishes. These cultural, garden and culinary offerings belong to the wider Eichstätt destination and should be distinguished from the sights and activities in Adelschlag.
For the wider travel overview: Nassenfels.
