Solnhofen: Fossils, Trails and History

Solnhofen brings together impressive fossil finds, landscapes and history: unique original Archaeopteryx specimens are on display at the Regional Paleontological Museum, and visitors can search for fossils themselves in the hobby quarry. There are also signposted circular trails through the valley and up to the plateau of the Franconian Jura. If you want to make nature, culture and your own discoveries the focus of your trip, you’ll find several different themes here to help with your planning.

Archaeopteryx and fossils in Solnhofen

The Regional Paleontological Museum in Solnhofen displays unique original Archaeopteryx specimens. Seeing original fossils makes the history of the Earth tangible through actual specimens. A guided tour of the Solnhofen Museum – Bürgermeister-Müller Museum offers insights into the world of fossils dating back 150 million years; the exhibition consists exclusively of originals. If you’d like to include a guided tour in your visit, check the dates before you travel.

Searching for fossils yourself is another experience available here: visitors can hunt for fossils at the Solnhofen hobby quarry. Tools can be borrowed there. A museum visit and searching for fossils yourself offer different experiences: one focuses on viewing original specimens, the other on making your own discoveries. This may help with planning if you want to combine different interests on your trip.

For getting around: the Solnhofen Museum is 100 metres from Solnhofen station. Free parking is available directly in front of the museum. The museum is also located right on the Altmühltal Cycle Route.

Circular trails, Jura slopes and the Altmühltal Panorama Trail

In Solnhofen, 45 kilometres of signposted circular trails lead through the valley, across slopes covered in mixed forest and up to the plateau of the Franconian Jura. They showcase a variety of landscapes: the valley, wooded slopes and the open plateau. If you’d rather follow a long-distance trail, you can explore the section of the Altmühltal Panorama Trail that runs from Pappenheim via Solnhofen to Mörnsheim.

The circular trails and the Panorama Trail offer different options for planning your trip: the signposted circular trails form a network in Solnhofen, while the Panorama Trail places Solnhofen on a route between two other towns. The entire 200-kilometre Altmühltal Panorama Trail follows the Altmühl from Gunzenhausen to Kelheim through the Altmühltal Nature Park and is certified as a “Quality Trail Wanderbares Deutschland”. The museum is also located right on the Altmühltal Cycle Route, which runs for around 160 kilometres from Gunzenhausen to Kelheim through the Altmühltal Nature Park.

Nearby, the Twelve Apostles Rocks are located on the valley slope along the road between Eßlingen and Solnhofen. They are part of a nature reserve and can be reached from Solnhofen. If you’d like to get to know the landscape not just as a route but also through its distinctive rock formations, you could include this nearby landmark in your plans.

Basilica and regional history

The Solabasilika and provostry in Solnhofen include a three-aisled Carolingian basilica with a crypt and the tomb of Saint Sola. They offer a cultural focus alongside the fossils and trails. You can tailor your trip to your interests: are you primarily interested in the history of the Earth, exploring the landscape on foot, or historic architecture?

The wider travel destination of Weißenburg-Gunzenhausen offers further insights into Roman history. The Limes runs for around 40 kilometres across the district of Weißenburg-Gunzenhausen and has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site there since 2005. Germany’s largest Roman treasure hoard is on display at the Roman Museum in Weißenburg; the museum is also home to the Central Bavarian Limes Information Centre. Weißenburg’s Roman heritage also includes the Roman Baths, while numerous Roman watchtowers, forts and fragments of bathhouses across the district bear witness to Roman history.

The Hohenzollern Fortress of Wülzburg, above Weißenburg, is also part of the wider travel destination of Weißenburg-Gunzenhausen. It stands on the highest hilltop in the southern Franconian Alb, at 630 metres, and is considered an impressive example of Renaissance fortress architecture in Germany. Weather permitting, guided tours are offered from May to October. If a tour is important to your plans, check the current dates before you travel.

Solnhofen as a destination for your trip

Would you like to focus on Solnhofen, with its museum, fossil hunting and trails in the Franconian Jura, or also include the cultural and historical attractions of the wider travel destination of Weißenburg-Gunzenhausen? This decision helps you choose a destination that suits your planned activities, without treating the different places and themes as if they were the same. If you’re travelling with others who have different interests, you can think of the museum, fossil hunting and landscape experiences as separate highlights of the trip.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Langenaltheim, Gnotzheim, Pleinfeld, Meinheim, Pappenheim, Ettenstatt, Thalmannsfeld and Westheim.

Back to the overview of the wider travel destination: Weißenburg-Gunzenhausen.