Weißenburg-Gunzenhausen: Roman history and lakes

Roman traces in the district

The Limes runs for around 40 kilometres across the Weißenburg-Gunzenhausen district and has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site there since 2005. At the Roman Museum in Weißenburg, you can see Germany’s largest Roman treasure find; the museum also houses the Central Bavarian Limes Information Centre. This brings two different ways of exploring Roman history into focus: the treasure find and information about the Limes. Numerous Roman watchtowers, forts and remains of bathhouses in the district also recall its Roman past. Weißenburg’s Roman heritage also includes the Roman Baths. The Biriciana fort has been partially reconstructed. If you are particularly interested in Roman times, you will find both museum exhibits and historic sites and traces throughout the district.

Fortifications and trails through the landscape

Above Weißenburg, the former Ansbach Hohenzollern fortress of Wülzburg stands on the highest hilltop in the southern Franconian Jura, at 630 m. It is an impressive example of Renaissance fortress architecture in Germany. Guided tours are offered there from May to October, weather permitting. If you would like to include a visit to the fortress in your stay, take this period and the weather-dependent tours into account when planning.

For hiking enthusiasts, there are several routes to choose from: the Weißenburg hiking trail Via Biriciana follows old Roman roads to the Limes. The Altmühltal Panorama Trail runs for 200 kilometres along the Altmühl from Gunzenhausen to Kelheim through Altmühltal Nature Park. It is certified by the German Hiking Association as a Quality Trail “Wanderbares Deutschland.” The Altmühltal Cycle Route runs for around 160 kilometres from Gunzenhausen to Kelheim through the nature park. The total lengths listed can help you decide what kind of trip to take: the Panorama Trail and the cycle route are longer routes, while the Via Biriciana highlights the connection between old Roman roads and the Limes.

There is also a longer route on the water: the Altmühl canoeing route through Altmühltal Nature Park is just under 120 kilometres long between Gunzenhausen and Dietfurt/Töging. Hiking, cycling and a canoe trip can therefore provide different focuses for your trip, without requiring you to choose just one way of getting around.

Lakes, water sports and birdwatching

The Franconian Lake District lies in the Weißenburg-Gunzenhausen and Roth districts. The lakes mentioned include Altmühlsee, Kleiner Brombachsee, Igelsbachsee, Rothsee and Großer Brombachsee. Altmühlsee lies northwest of Gunzenhausen and is ideal for swimming, sailing and surfing. Water sports are generally possible on the lakes; on Igelsbachsee, they are subject to the rules governing common use. If water sports are part of your travel plans, this difference is important when choosing your destinations.

The roughly 120-hectare Bird Island in Altmühlsee offers another way to experience nature. The Bavarian Association for the Protection of Birds offers ornithological guided tours there. So, in addition to the water sports mentioned, Altmühlsee also offers guided insights into the world of birds. When deciding where to stay, you can first consider whether you would like to focus primarily on Roman history, hiking and cycling trails, water sports or birdwatching.

For further orientation, see the town pages here: Thalmannsfeld, Pleinfeld, Gnotzheim, Heidenheim, Ellingen, Pappenheim, Dittenheim, Höttingen, Markt Berolzheim, Meinheim, Raitenbuch, Theilenhofen, Westheim, Ettenstatt, Langenaltheim, Muhr Am See, Nennslingen, Weißenburg In Bayern, Solnhofen, Gunzenhausen and Treuchtlingen.

For the broader travel overview: Bavaria.