Discover Gunzenhausen: Romans, cycling routes and Lake Altmühl

Gunzenhausen combines Roman history with cycling routes and green places to relax; Lake Altmühl adds water sports to the range of activities.

Roman times in the historic town centre

The Gunzenhausen Archaeological Museum focuses on the Romans on the Limes, everyday Roman life, the Mithras sanctuary and the Early Middle Ages. It is located in the historic town centre, close to the market square and Blasturm tower. Information boards at sites in and around Gunzenhausen with traces of the Limes and the Romans also provide information on site.

St Mary’s Church also connects the present with the Roman past. From 150 to 240 AD, a Roman fort stood on the site of today’s church square. It served to protect the Limes and the Altmühl crossing and was destroyed by the Alamanni. The Evangelical Lutheran church has about 1,200 seats. It hosts the main Sunday service, numerous special services and most of the city’s church music events; dates for individual events may change. The church is also on the Way of St James, which runs from Nuremberg via Abenberg and onwards to Nördlingen and Ulm.

Cycling routes in and around Gunzenhausen

There are more than 800 kilometres of signposted cycling routes around Gunzenhausen. The Altmühltal Cycle Route starts in Gunzenhausen, as does the 31-kilometre section of the Limes Cycle Route to Weißenburg. In the wider destination of Weißenburg-Gunzenhausen, the Altmühltal Cycle Route runs for around 160 kilometres from Gunzenhausen to Kelheim through Altmühltal Nature Park. The two distances describe different scales: a named section to Weißenburg and a longer route to Kelheim.

The wider region is also shaped by Roman history: in Weißenburg-Gunzenhausen district, the Limes runs for around 40 kilometres across the district and has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site there since 2005. This places the local museum and fort history in a broader geographical context.

Green spaces, trails and lake

The Altmühl floodplain is a green recreational area in Gunzenhausen. An observation platform offers a view over a stork habitat; the floodplain is also home to “Platz für Alle” (A Place for Everyone), an accessible playground for all generations. In Burgstall Forest, designated walking paths lead to Roman remains dating from the 2nd century AD. Those looking to combine art and exercise can explore the sculpture trail, which runs from the Gunzenhausen promenade to Lake Altmühl.

Lake Altmühl lies northwest of Gunzenhausen and is a popular spot for swimming, sailing and surfing. Conditions and local restrictions may vary. In the wider destination of Weißenburg-Gunzenhausen, the approximately 120-hectare Bird Island in Lake Altmühl offers visitors ornithological guided tours run by the Bavarian branch of the German Association for the Protection of Birds; check the availability of tours before your visit.

Gunzenhausen bratwurst is also part of the city’s culinary identity: it is considered a Franconian delicacy and appears on the menus of many inns. Individual menus may change.

Then compare the location of specific accommodation with the destinations you actually plan to visit.

Discover more destinations: Haundorf, Absberg, Pfofeld, Pleinfeld, Dittenheim, Höttingen, Ellingen, Gnotzheim.

Go to the wider travel overview: Weißenburg-Gunzenhausen.