Discover Hilpoltstein: Residence, Town History and the Gredl

Hilpoltstein offers several concrete ways to explore its history: the residence dating from the early 17th century, the town museum in the rear building of the “Schwarzes Roß” brewery inn, and a medieval festival held every year in May. Other highlights include the parish church on the Nuremberg–Eichstätt Way of St. James and the Gredl rail connection to Roth. Lake Rothsee broadens the perspective on the Roth travel region; it lies between Roth, Hilpoltstein and Allersberg.

Residence and Town History

Hilpoltstein Residence was built between 1618 and 1626 by Count Palatine Johann Friedrich. Its features include elaborate stucco work by the Kuhn brothers. This princely building, with its richly decorated interiors, stands alongside collections on the town’s history: the residence and the museum offer different focuses for a culturally oriented stay.

The Hilpoltstein Town Museum is housed in the rear building of the “Schwarzes Roß” brewery inn of the same name. The museum includes part of the town fortifications’ surviving battlement walk and collections on local history. It also displays remains of one of Bavaria’s oldest breweries. The museum is currently closed for renovation. Check its current status before planning a visit.

Medieval Festival and Pilgrimage Route

Every year in May, Hilpoltstein hosts the medieval festival “Knights, Bards and Bag Cutters”; admission is free. The programme includes music, entertainers, a market, camp life and taverns. The festival offers a different way to explore the town’s history than the residence and museum: the focus here is on the programme and atmosphere of a multi-part festival. If you want to plan your trip around the festival, check the specific event dates.

The Nuremberg–Eichstätt Way of St. James also has a specific landmark in Hilpoltstein: the parish church of St. John the Baptist is located there, with a statue of St. James by its steps. The church and statue connect the named pilgrimage route with a clearly identifiable place in town. For travellers interested in pilgrimage routes and churches, this stop adds a religious theme to the architectural and town history.

Rail Connections and Regional Routes

Today, the Gredl runs only between Roth and Hilpoltstein, using modern trains. If you plan to use this connection for your trip, check the current timetable before setting off.

In the Roth travel region, the Gredl-Express 636 runs from Hilpoltstein via Thalmässing and Greding to Kinding and back. Along the way, this leisure service passes numerous sights in the Roth district. As its route may change seasonally, check the current connection before travelling. This helps you distinguish the local Roth–Hilpoltstein rail connection from the longer Gredl-Express route when planning.

Lake Rothsee and Regional Highlights in the Roth Travel Region

The 210-hectare Lake Rothsee lies between Roth, Hilpoltstein and Allersberg. Around the lake, the Roth district offers a variety of leisure activities on the water and on land. This regional landscape complements Hilpoltstein’s cultural attractions with a glimpse of the wider area.

Culinary offerings are also a district-wide feature: listed restaurants in the Roth district serve Franconian cuisine made with regional products under the “original regional” label. Participating businesses and directories may change, so check the latest information before choosing a specific place. The DATEV Challenge Roth is a recurring summer-season triathlon event in the Roth district. If the event matters to your travel plans, check the dates and participation details separately.

When choosing where to stay, you can consider Hilpoltstein’s local cultural attractions separately from regional themes around Lake Rothsee, food and events.

Discover More Destinations

Thalmässing, Greding, Abenberg, Schwabach, Spalt, Georgensgmünd, Roth near Nuremberg, Wendelstein

Back to the main travel overview: Roth.