Discover Ursensollen: Planetarium, St. Vitus and Cycling Route

Ursensollen offers several reasons to visit: planetarium shows, the town’s first church, dating from 1323, and a cycling route that runs from Ursensollen to Kastl. There are also trails through the municipality and seasonal traditions.

Planetarium and local history

The 3D Planetarium Ursensollen offers planetarium shows. If a particular show is a key part of your visit, check the current programme in advance. St. Vitus adds a historical dimension: it is the first church in Ursensollen and a building dating from 1323. The planetarium and the church appeal to two different cultural interests, which you can consider separately or together when planning your visit.

Traditions across the municipality

Two seasonal traditions in the municipality offer different occasions to visit. Held every spring, the Georgiritt procession honours St. George and passes through the villages of Hausen and Heimhof in the municipality of Ursensollen with hundreds of horses and riders. The Ursensollen Forest Christmas takes place during Advent and attracts visitors from near and far. If either of these events is a deciding factor for your trip, check the respective dates in advance.

The municipality also includes the small Zant pilgrimage church on the 516 m-high Schlossberg. It is known for one of the oldest organs in the Upper Palatinate. Its connection to the organ makes Zant a distinct cultural attraction within the municipality.

Exploring by bike and on foot

The Schweppermann Cycle Route runs from Ursensollen to Kastl across an 18 m-high viaduct. The destination and the structure provide two clear points of reference along the route. Various hiking trails through the municipality offer a chance to discover the Jura landscape. A named cycling route and several local trails offer different ways to experience the landscape.

The wider Amberg-Sulzbach travel region

The Amberg-Sulzbacher Land, part of the wider Amberg-Sulzbach travel region, lies in Bavaria between Regensburg and Nuremberg. Its landscape features towering limestone cliffs, gentle Jura hills, extensive forests and picturesque river valleys. One specific hike in this regional setting is the 2.7-kilometre Felsenweg trail. Taking about 45 minutes, it leads from Sackdilling through a rock labyrinth to the Bauernlöcher and across an impressive rocky landscape.

Another activity in the wider Amberg-Sulzbach travel region is the Bow-Vision 3D course near Wolfertsfeld. On a circular route of about 3 kilometres through the farm woodland typical of the Upper Palatinate Jura, you can try traditional archery. In Theuern, a nature observation platform has been built on the edge of the settling ponds at the wastewater treatment plant. The adjoining wetland, with the Vils river, oxbow lakes and ponds, is a year-round resting and breeding ground for local birds and those that migrate from the north.

Culture and history also shape the wider Amberg-Sulzbach travel region. The East Bavarian Mining and Industrial Museum at Theuern Cultural Castle researches and documents mining and industry in eastern Bavaria, keeping their history alive. The Erzweg connects sites with a mining tradition spanning more than 1,000 years and passes through cultural and natural landscapes. Since 2023, Kirwan festivals in the Amberg-Sulzbacher Land have been part of Bavaria’s intangible cultural heritage. They are celebrated every year in the respective village and are open to visitors and local residents.

Culinary and water-based experiences also contribute to the region’s character. Many inns in the Amberg-Sulzbacher Land regularly serve traditional Schlachtschüssel feasts, featuring Wurschtsuppn, boiled pork and blood sausages, liver sausages and bratwurst made to their own recipes. Dates vary by inn. Brewing traditions include original Upper Palatinate Zoigl beer from Erlheim and hops from the world’s smallest hop-growing area in Illschwang, used by the Sudhang private brewery in Amberg. The Vils is navigable by canoe from Hahnbach, passing unspoilt stretches of river, castles and historic Amberg.

St. Vitus, cycling and hiking trails, or a seasonal festival each raise different planning considerations. If you’re planning a visit around the Georgiritt or the Forest Christmas, be sure to check the respective event dates.

More destinations

Discover more destinations: Schmidmühlen, Königstein, Rieden, Edelsfeld, Freudenberg, Ammerthal, Birgland, Hirschau

Back to the regional travel overview: Amberg-Sulzbach.