Lauf a.d.Pegnitz: Old Town, Mills and Cycling Routes

In Lauf a.d.Pegnitz, traces of the imperial era meet vivid industrial history and cycling routes through the town on the Pegnitz and its districts. Wenzelschloss, the historic market square and the Industrial Museum grounds offer different focuses for your discovery tour: medieval town history, old technology or getting out and about on two wheels.

Discover the Imperial Era and the Townscape

Between 1356 and 1360, Emperor Charles IV had today’s Wenzelschloss built on the island in the Pegnitz, on the site of the imperial castle that had previously been destroyed and as a secondary residence. The castle mainly served as a resting place for him on the way to his imperial residence in Prague. This connection makes the site interesting both as a building and as a stop on a historic journey.

The Lauf market square also tells a story of connections between cities: it was laid out in the 13th century on the “Golden Road” between Nuremberg and Prague. The free-standing Old Town Hall stands in its centre, and two town gates enclose the square. Shops and restaurants around the historic market square in the old town invite you to shop and stop for a meal. This lets you combine a look at the town’s architectural history with a stay in the town centre.

Wenzelschloss also includes other rooms and exhibitions that can be visited through the Stadtführer Lauf e.V. and Altstadtfreunde Lauf e.V. associations: the Heraldic Hall and the city exhibitions in the Imperial Hall and the Men’s Room. Visiting arrangements may change; check in advance for current options. The free audio guide “What Did Emperor Charles IV Do in Lauf?” offers another way to explore the historic squares and buildings, with twelve listening stations. It is aimed especially at families, children and young people. Check whether the app is available before using it.

Industrial History in Old Workshops

The Lauf Industrial Museum presents more than 120 years of industrial history across 4,000 m² in 14 listed buildings. The size of the site and the variety of its buildings give the subject a tangible setting: rather than seeing technology only as a finished product, visitors encounter individual machines and workshops in context. The Engelhardt hammer mill is one of the last surviving facilities of its kind in Bavaria.

Interactive stations make technical concepts accessible through experiments and play. Examples include a steam engine model that is set in motion and trains powered by muscle. The specific stations may change over time. Operating old milling machinery is also part of the museum experience: the water-powered rye mill is set in motion during demonstrations and every year on Whit Monday for German Mill Day. The hammer mill at the Industrial Museum is also operated to demonstrate how it works. The Reichl grinding mill is still demonstrated too, so visitors can learn how it works.

Another way to combine town history and local tradition is the beer tour through the historic old town, which can be booked in advance. It ends with a beer tasting at the museum. Check availability and arrangements again before your trip.

Cycling Routes and Different Travel Plans

The 35.6-kilometre Lauf circular cycle route invites you to discover the town on the Pegnitz and its districts by bike. The town’s cycling network links up with the Industrial Heritage Cycle Route, the Five Rivers Cycle Route and the Paris–Lauf–Prague Paneuropean Cycle Route. There are also specific places to connect a ride with a cultural destination: the Five Rivers Cycle Route passes the Industrial Museum, and the museum is a stop on the Industrial History cycling tour.

The Sense Cycle Route, which leads to Tauchersreuth, offers a different perspective. The village is Lauf’s highest point and has a viewpoint. Cycling and town history can therefore be included in your travel plans as different focuses. When looking for accommodation, consider whether you mainly want to include the historic squares and the museum or the cycling routes in your itinerary. Tailor your search to the day’s activities you want to enjoy in Lauf.

Explore Beyond Lauf in the Nürnberger Land

Those wishing to extend their travel plans beyond Lauf to the Nürnberger Land will find more than 3,000 kilometres of waymarked hiking trails and well-maintained cycling routes of varying difficulty. One specific hiking option within the wider destination is the “Hohenstein (634 m) – SevenSummits” route through Kirchensittenbach: it is 10.1 kilometres long and includes 406 metres of ascent and 397 metres of descent. This gives the region a hiking option in its own right, alongside the cycling opportunities in Lauf.

Discover more destinations: Leinburg, Nuremberg, Pommelsbrunn, Röthenbach an der Pegnitz, Happurg, Vorra, Simmelsdorf, Fischbach.

Go to the overview of the wider destination: Nürnberger Land.