Mühlhausen: Canal History, Nature Trails and Churches

Mühlhausen combines the history of the Ludwig Canal with horse-towing experiences, trails through the countryside and a variety of cultural attractions. You can tailor your stay to your interests, from the lock and historic canal to cycling and nature trails, churches, a museum and sculpture.

Would you mainly like to explore the canal’s history, get out on your bike, or combine culture with nature trails? Then check the location of the specific accommodation on offer in relation to the places you want to visit.

Horse Towing and Canal History

Along the horse-towing route, the horse-drawn Alma Viktoria travels from Mühlhausen to Pollanten and back. The route is 6.5 kilometres long. Horse towing, including passage through a lock on the historic Ludwig Canal, is one of Mühlhausen’s visitor attractions.

Lock 25 also brings the history of the waterway to life: it is the only lock still in operation on the 178-kilometre Ludwig Canal. Construction of the canal began in 1836 and was completed nine years later, in 1845. The Ludwig Canal and its structures are protected historic monuments. History, engineering and the experience of a horse-towed boat trip come together here in different ways.

Walking and Cycling Routes

The Gehölzpfad (tree trail) starts at the SV Mühlhausen-Sulzbürg sports grounds and runs for 1.8 kilometres to Wappersdorf. This educational trail is signposted with German and botanical names. Those interested in trees will find a clear thematic focus along the way.

The Energiepfad (energy trail) links the municipal woodland cemetery, a solar power plant, the Dürrlohspeicher reservoir and the Bachhausen-Mühlhausen landing stage. It passes through the scenic Upper Palatinate Jura landscape. Unlike the tree trail, the focus here is on the places it connects. When choosing a route, you can therefore consider whether a stated distance or a route with several named stops matters more to you.

Cyclists will also find a range of options: numerous cycle paths and tours run along the Ludwig Canal. The well-developed cycle network includes e-bike charging stations in Mühlhausen and Sulzbürg. If you’d like to combine your trip with a bike ride, you can consider the canal as a theme in its own right alongside the walking trails.

Churches, Museum and Sculpture

St Michael’s Church was built in the Baroque style between 1719 and 1723. In Sulzbürg, the Protestant Castle Church of St Michael and the neighbouring Catholic Church of Our Lady of Seven Sorrows form a distinctive landmark. These different places of worship complement the historic traces along the canal.

The Landl Museum showcases local history up to the mid-20th century. Sculptures are created during the biennial sculpture symposia associated with Kunst am Klenzebau. The museum, churches and sculpture each add their own character to a culturally focused stay.

The Landscape

The local tourist region is known as the “Landscape of Three Waters.” The Zeugenberge hills to the west and the Albtrauf escarpment to the east provide further geographical reference points. For planning purposes, this means you can combine the trails and cultural attractions according to your interests—cycling, hiking and exploring architectural history don’t have to be part of the same kind of outing.

If you’re weighing up several options, compare the experiences: horse towing and the lock represent the Ludwig Canal, the tree trail offers a named educational route, the energy trail links several stops, and the cycle network provides routes along the canal.

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