Mitteleschenbach: Hiking in the Mönchswald and Village History

Mitteleschenbach lies in a hilly, forested landscape in the northern Franconian Lake District. The extensive Mönchswald offers nature lovers a variety of ways to relax; around the 526-meter-high Mönchsberg, hiking and cycling are also specific activities. At the same time, St. Nicholas Parish Church, St. Walburga Cemetery Church, and the Goose Fountain tell stories of village history and art. When planning your stay, you can therefore choose between spending time on the trails and exploring the village.

Hiking and Cycling Around Mitteleschenbach

The municipality of Mitteleschenbach has signposted more than 50 kilometers of new circular hiking trails around Mitteleschenbach. The hiking map “Hiking in the Mönchswald – Hiking Tips Around Mitteleschenbach” lists six circular trails ranging from 6 to 14 kilometers in length. In addition, several long-distance hiking trails, including the Main-Danube Hiking Trail, cross the municipality of Mitteleschenbach. The forest area around the Mönchsberg also offers opportunities for hiking and cycling.

For cycling trips, well-signposted Cycle Route No. 8 is a specific option: it connects Mitteleschenbach with Lake Altmühlsee and bypasses the Mönchswald ridge. Lake Altmühlsee is 14 kilometers away. This connection adds another way to explore the landscape alongside the circular hiking trails, without conflating the signposted hiking routes with the cycle route.

Another option is the Altmühl-Mönchswald audio tours: this audio-guided tour through the Mönchswald communities is about 1.4 kilometers long and includes eight listening points. The audio guide offers insights into everyday village life in the past, covering work, school, and faith. The different offerings can thus be considered according to your interests: the hiking map gives trail lengths for circular routes, while the audio tour combines listening stations with local history.

Churches and Art in the Village

St. Nicholas Parish Church is a simple late-Gothic sandstone building. During its expansion, a new choir and a new nave were built in 1895; the older church was retained as a transept. The high altar is adorned with a crucifix dating from the late 15th century. The church also contains valuable high-relief figures depicting the Lamentation of Christ, dating from around 1520. The building’s history and works of art thus point to different historical periods.

St. Walburga Cemetery Church is considered the oldest building in Mitteleschenbach. Its altar was consecrated on June 13, 1400, by Auxiliary Bishop Seyfried of Eichstätt. In 1722, the church was extended according to plans by Gabriel di Gabrieli, the director of construction at the time. Work on the cemetery church was completed in July 2020. A virtual visit to St. Walburga is also available.

The Goose Fountain also adds a distinctive feature to the village center: it is decorated with bronze figures by artist L. Kressel-Orfzky in the village square. The figures refer to rural and farming life in times past. Village history can therefore be encountered not only in the churches, but also as a work of art in the public landscape.

Planning Your Trip

The hiking maps are available free of charge at Mitteleschenbach Town Hall and in various inns. When looking for accommodation, you can use your planned activities as a starting point: the circular hiking trails and the cycling connection to Lake Altmühlsee suit different day plans, while the audio guide and church art offer further topics in local history and culture. This can help you decide whether Mitteleschenbach offers the mix of nature and village history you’re looking for on your trip.

For the broader travel overview: Wolframs-Eschenbach.