Walting: Juniper Heath, Roman Fort and Altmühl

Juniper Heath and Wetlands

The Gungolding Juniper Heath lies on the northern slope of the Altmühl Valley near Gungolding and is a nature reserve covering around 70 hectares. It was created when the forest was cleared in the Middle Ages and the land was subsequently used for grazing livestock. Its plant life also makes the site special: spring gentian, fringed gentian and German gentian grow in the dry grasslands. The history of the landscape and its botanical diversity go hand in hand here—a distinctive focus for anyone interested in how a cultural landscape developed and the plants it supports.

The Pfünz Wetlands Nature Trail takes a different approach. Its twenty stations cover the development of wetlands, fauna and flora, the Altmühl’s high and low water levels, elm disease and river regulation measures. The trail thus draws attention to waterways and ecological change, while the juniper heath is all about dry grasslands and their plants. The Altmühlleiten Wellbeing Trail starts at the car park by the Church of the Assumption in Gungolding. These different nature themes give you various points of reference for planning your trip.

Roman History near Pfünz

Vetoniana Fort was built around 90 AD. Today, its northern gateway, a corner tower and part of the defensive wall have been reconstructed. The fort also has a Roman guardroom that has been partly restored to its original appearance. The Roman fort Castra Vetoniana in the district of Pfünz is described in the context of the UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Limes.

The Pfünz Roman History Trail has nine stations around Vetoniana Roman Fort, exploring its history. The stations explain both the fort itself and the camp village, with its temples and houses. The focus is therefore not only on individual structural remains, but also on the history of the fort and an account of the camp village. This offers a different theme from the nature trails for anyone planning a stay focused on archaeology.

Sculptures, Castle Remains and the Altmühl

KUNSTamBANDamLIMES in Walting consists of seven sculptures that bring the Upper Germanic-Raetian Limes UNESCO World Heritage Site to life. In Rieshofen, the only remaining part of the former moated castle is its keep, which is around 17 to 18 metres high. Both places offer their own distinct attractions: the sculptures interpret the Limes theme artistically, while the keep evokes a former castle complex. A relaxing paddle on the Altmühl through the municipality of Walting offers another activity.

When looking for a holiday apartment in Walting, these interests can help you decide what kind of stay you want. The juniper heath and wetlands nature trail represent different nature themes; the fort, Roman history trail, sculptures and keep offer a range of historical and cultural points of interest. If you would rather spend time on the water, you can include paddling on the Altmühl in your vacation plans. This makes it easier to decide which aspects of the destination you want to shape your stay.

More to Explore in the Wider Eichstätt Destination

In the wider Eichstätt destination, the Jura Museum Eichstätt offers a distinct focus: fossils from the Solnhofen Plattenkalk limestone are at the heart of the exhibition, and the museum also displays the original Eichstätt specimen of Archaeopteryx. The Willibaldsburg castle in Eichstätt offers a different historical perspective. It was built in 1355 by Bishop Berthold, Burgrave of Zollern, and served as the bishop’s residence until 1725. These sights in Eichstätt complement the Roman history and natural history found in Walting with fossils and the history of the bishops.

Discover more destinations: Wasserzell.

Back to the overview of the wider destination: Eichstätt.