Eichstätt: Fossils, Willibaldsburg and Bastion Garden

Discover fossils

The exhibition at the Jura Museum Eichstätt focuses on fossils from the Solnhofen limestone. It also displays the original Eichstätt specimen of Archaeopteryx. For families with children who are interested in fossils, this offers two specific points of interest for a museum visit: fossils from the limestone and the Archaeopteryx specimen. The Eichstätt Fossil Trail continues the theme outdoors as a circular route. It is moderately challenging, 9 km long and intended for families. Its stated length and difficulty rating can help you include the trail in your day’s plans.

Willibaldsburg and Bastion Garden

Willibaldsburg was built in 1355 by Bishop Berthold Burggraf von Zollern and served as the bishop’s residence until 1725. The complex is 420 m long. Its surviving features include walls and bastions, the armory, the 63 m-long gate hall, and the Gemmingen building with its two towers. The castle therefore offers several specific architectural features to look out for, rather than being just a historical name on your itinerary.

The 1,500 m² Bastion Garden is also located at Willibaldsburg. There, 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. The castle and garden therefore appeal to two different interests: the surviving parts of a former bishop’s residence and the plants associated with the history of the Hortus Eystettensis. Domplatz adds to the city’s history: it lies on the oldest settled ground in the city of Eichstätt.

Exploring the district of Eichstätt

The district of Eichstätt forms the heart of the Altmühltal Nature Park, one of Germany’s largest nature parks. More than 80 percent of the district lies within the nature park and offers a space for relaxation and leisure amid natural beauty. When deciding how to focus your holiday, it is useful to think of city visits in Eichstätt and excursions in the district as different parts of the trip. The Altmühltal Cycle Route passes through the district of Eichstätt and is a specific option for anyone wishing to include a bike ride in their trip.

There is also a special place outside the museum for fossil enthusiasts: the fossil quarry for amateur collectors is on Blumenberg near Eichstätt, right next to the Marienstein children’s village. It is a separate destination from the 9 km fossil trail. The two activities differ in the way they are described: one is a moderately challenging circular trail for families, the other a quarry for amateur collectors. When choosing a holiday apartment in Eichstätt, you can consider whether you would prefer to focus on the museum and architectural history or on the circular trail, cycling and nature.

Dishes from Eichstätt

Several times a year, Eichstätt’s Genuss-Wirte (gourmet hosts) offer special dishes under the motto “Eichstätt kocht...” (Eichstätt cooks...). These include, for example, spicy Altmühltal lamb dishes. This adds a culinary dimension to visits to the museum and castle, which may also fit into your travel plans for Eichstätt. If you are interested in this offering, you can consider it a distinct part of your stay and plan the other days around the cultural and outdoor experiences you want.

More local guides: Denkendorf, Großmehring, Kösching, Beilngries, Dollnstein, Wellheim, Altmannstein, Gaimersheim, Mörnsheim, Lenting, Kipfenberg, Kinding, Eichstätt, Titting, Nassenfels, Schernfeld, Böhmfeld, Mindelstetten, Pollenfeld, Oberdolling, Pförring.

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