A guided tour of Prunn Castle and a scenic circular hiking trail offer different highlights when planning a visit to the wider Riedenburg destination. Prunn Castle can normally only be visited as part of a guided tour, which lasts around 45 minutes. As visitor arrangements may change, check the information before you travel. The tour focuses on the interior rooms and historical architectural features, while the hiking trail puts the landscape and route centre stage.

Prunn Castle: Architecture and the Codex

Prunn Castle is a medieval hilltop castle on a steep limestone crag above the Altmühltal valley. The museum tour takes visitors through the palas, former living quarters, the castle chapel, the medieval residential tower, the Dürnitz, the keep and the ladies’ chamber. The 31-metre-high keep is one of the oldest surviving parts of the castle. The visit therefore takes you through different areas of the complex rather than focusing solely on its exterior. Prunn Castle is associated with the discovery of the Prunn Codex, a significant complete manuscript of the Nibelungenlied. This gives visitors two specific themes to explore: the medieval castle complex and the story of the manuscript’s discovery, which is connected with the castle.

Riedenburg as the wider destination

In the wider Riedenburg destination, a scenic circular hiking trail leads from the market square in Riedenburg in the Altmühltal valley through the “Klamm und Kastlhäng” nature reserve to Prunn Castle. Sure footing is required on the section through the gorge. Plan accordingly for this section. Another hiking option is the Altmühltal Panorama Trail, which passes through the dry gorge near Einthal.

Rosenburg Castle is the landmark of Riedenburg. At Rosenburg Castle, flight displays offer the chance to see golden eagles, white-tailed eagles, vultures, kites and falcons flying freely at close range. The Kristallmuseum Riedenburg offers special guided tours for children, explaining the world of gemstones. You can also explore the town’s history on a tour with the “Burggraf von Riedenburg” (Count of Riedenburg), who leads visitors through the historic old town and shares entertaining and fascinating details about its history.

The ruins also offer different historical points of interest. The ruins of Tachenstein preserve the remains of a keep around ten metres high. The castle was probably built in the 12th or 13th century and was already mentioned as a ruin in the 16th century. A viewing platform near the ruins offers panoramic views of Riedenburg’s old town and the surrounding Jura slopes. You can explore Tachenstein in more detail on a hike along the Three Castles Trail. The ruins of Rabenstein are the oldest castle complex in Riedenburg and can also be explored in more detail on a hike along the Three Castles Trail.

Another architectural highlight is the Catholic parish church of St John the Baptist in Riedenburg. This late Baroque gem has large Baroque windows framed by ornamental stucco.

For an overview of the wider destination: Riedenburg.