Painten: Forests, Panoramic Views and Nature Experiences

Painten combines forest landscapes, open Jura plateaus and hands-on nature experiences to make a varied destination for days outdoors. The Paintner Forest is one of the largest continuous forest areas in the Altmühltal Nature Park; the Jura plateau near Painten offers panoramic views. The trails also offer variety: shady stretches through the forest alternate with flowering meadows and open countryside. If you are looking for accommodation, you can first decide whether the nature experience area, a hike or several different tours will shape your stay.

Nature in Tangrintel

At the nature experience area in Tangrintel, you will find a barefoot path, an herb garden, a stone pile, an insect hotel and an amphitheatre with seating rows made of Jura stone. The area is freely accessible. Typical plants of nutrient-poor grasslands and disturbed ground, as found around Painten, grow in the herb garden. The barefoot path offers sensory experiences with your eyes closed. Here, plants and natural features sit alongside an experience that focuses on the sense of touch.

Hikes and Trails

Paintner Circular Hiking Trail 1 is an easy route across the Jura plateau between Painten and Kelheim. It passes through flowering meadows and the shady Paintner Forest. The Fossil Loop offers a different experience: it is a leisurely hike across the Jura plateau near Painten and starts at the market square. From there, it heads north along Schmidgasse and continues across open countryside to Mantlach and Netzstall. Along the way, there are repeated views of the Painten quarry; from the plateau, the view stretches to the horizon. The two hikes differ in that Circular Hiking Trail 1 focuses on meadows and forest sections, while the Fossil Loop features open countryside and panoramic views.

The other routes also have specific starting points. The Painten Mushroom Education Trail starts in Maierhofen, a district of Painten, at the junction of Hauptstraße and Forststraße. The Pure Pleasure Trail runs between Kelheim, Ihrlerstein and Painten. Its section from Painten towards Gasthaus Glashütte follows trails and gravel sections.

Kelheim as a Regional Context

In the broader travel destination of Kelheim, the northern part of Kelheim district, including Kelheim, Essing and Riedenburg, lies within the Altmühltal Nature Park. The nature reserve “Weltenburger Enge, Hirschberg and Altmühlleiten,” located in Kelheim, encompasses the unique Danube Gorge. There are eleven hiking trails in the Weltenburger Enge nature reserve. A 13-kilometre hike runs from Essing via the Tatzlwurm, past the Klausen Caves and along the Celtic Wall to the Danube Gorge. Kelheim is also home to the Befreiungshalle, commissioned by King Ludwig I, a memorial to the victorious battles against Napoleon during the Wars of Liberation from 1813 to 1815.

Accommodation and Tour Planning

The Fossil Loop starts at the market square in Painten, the Mushroom Education Trail in Maierhofen; the section of the Pure Pleasure Trail runs from Painten towards Gasthaus Glashütte. Consider which of these routes you would like to include in your stay, and tailor your accommodation search to your preferred location.

Discover more destinations: Kelheim, Abensberg, Wildenberg, Volkenschwand, Saal an der Donau, Riedenburg, Aiglsbach, Neustadt an der Donau.

Back to the broader travel overview: Kelheim.