Pförring: Roman Traces and Medieval History

Pförring combines Roman traces with a medieval past and a Romanesque church. The 19-kilometre heritage trail leads through the market town’s history; Roman finds can also be seen in the entrance area of the town hall. This gives you different ways to explore Pförring’s historical themes. When planning your trip, it is worth distinguishing the town’s monuments from the separate cultural and natural themes of the wider destination of Eichstätt.

Roman and Medieval History in Pförring

The heritage trail in Pförring is 19 kilometres long and leads through the market town’s medieval and Roman past. It thus brings together two historical themes in a single route. Its length gives you a concrete measure for planning if you would like to include this themed trail in your stay. One of the market town’s important historical monuments is the Celeusum fort, which was opened to tourism in 2009.

The town hall offers another glimpse into the Roman past: a small selection of Roman finds, including clay vessels and bronze spoons, is on display in its entrance area. The exhibition is modest in scale, while the heritage trail covers a broader sweep of history. This gives those interested two different ways to explore Pförring’s past.

The parish church of St. Leonhard adds a concrete example of Romanesque architecture to these themes. It is a three-aisled basilica with two eastern towers, was built around 1180 and was dedicated to St. Leonhard at that time. The description identifies both the church’s layout and its historical context: alongside the fort and the Roman finds, the focus here is a medieval church.

Visits and Nature in the Surrounding Area

Visits to the exhibition about the Kleinhäusler family in the market tower must be arranged with Pförring Town Hall. Visitors are asked to organise themselves into a group; individual visits are possible only in special cases. Arrange your visit and group in advance with the town hall. So if you are planning a visit with your family or a tour group, do not assume that an individual visit will be possible.

The Kelsbach spring near Ettling lies in the vicinity of the destination. The large spring pool is fed by various tributaries. Most of the springs there are typical karst pot springs, with water coming from greater depths. There is an important restriction for visits: the spring is on private property, and permission is required to visit.

Further Cultural and Natural Themes in the Wider Destination of Eichstätt

The wider destination of Eichstätt offers its own themes to explore alongside Pförring’s historical highlights. The Jura Museum Eichstätt focuses on fossils from the Solnhofen Plattenkalk; it also displays the original Eichstätt specimen of Archaeopteryx. While the finds in Pförring Town Hall relate to Roman history, Eichstätt’s focus is on fossils and a particular original specimen.

Another option in Eichstätt is the Fossil Trail: this moderately difficult circular route is nine kilometres long and designated as suitable for families. When planning, you can choose between a museum visit focused on fossils and a longer outdoor walk without conflating the different themes of the two offerings.

Willibaldsburg Castle adds another distinct historical theme. Bishop Berthold, Burgrave of Zollern, had it built in 1355; it served as the bishop’s residence until 1725. The 420-metre-long Willibaldsburg has retained its walls and bastions, the arsenal, the 63-metre-long gate hall and the Gemmingen building with its two towers. These named structures and measurements give a concrete impression of the parts of the complex that have survived.

The 1,500-square-metre Bastion Garden is also located at Willibaldsburg Castle. The Hortus Eystettensis, destroyed during the Thirty Years’ War, was brought back to life there after 400 years; visitors can discover many of the garden’s original plant species. Cathedral Square adds another historical perspective on Eichstätt: it stands on the oldest inhabited ground in the city.

Eichstätt’s Genuss-Wirte add a culinary touch, offering special dishes several times a year under the motto “Eichstätt kocht...” These include, for example, hearty Altmühltal lamb dishes. Culture, nature and cuisine each provide their own highlights in the wider destination of Eichstätt, while Pförring’s heritage trail, fort, finds and church shape the market town’s history.

Discover more destinations: Gaden near Pförring.

Discover more destinations: Beilngries, Großmehring, Kinding, Eichstätt, Nassenfels, Böhmfeld and Pollenfeld.

Back to the wider travel overview: Eichstätt.