Discover Böhmfeld: Church history and herb trail

Böhmfeld combines an early documentary mention, a parish church steeped in history and trails with distinct themes. This makes the village an interesting destination for travelers who want to explore culture and herbal knowledge through tangible stories.

Charter and church history

Böhmfeld is first mentioned in the charter founding St. Walburg Monastery in Eichstätt, dated July 24, 1035. It granted the nuns their “previously held possessions” in “pemminveld.” The first church in Böhmfeld was built between 1057 and 1059 and dedicated to St. Boniface.

St. Boniface Parish Church was built in the 16th century. In 1793, Domenico de Salle, the last of the famous Graubünden master builders in the Prince-Bishopric of Eichstätt, enlarged the church to its present size. Its furnishings also bring together different periods: Late Gothic figures of John the Evangelist (c. 1475) and St. Mary (c. 1520) stand on early Baroque side altars dating from around 1650. A painting dated 1760 depicts Böhmfeld and its patron saints Boniface, Willibald and Walburga.

Herb trail and Way of St. James

The herb trail runs through Böhmfeld’s northern countryside. In addition to herbs, it explores the magical associations of plants. Guided herb walks are also offered in Böhmfeld. The municipality lists planned walks and other events; check the latest details before your trip.

A sign for the Way of St. James stands by the Catholic church in Böhmfeld. From Böhmfeld, the Way of St. James leads into the Katzental valley. Alongside the themed herb trail, visitors can therefore find trail guidance and a specific route through the village—two different starting points for planning a trip.

Culture and traces of the Stone Age

For more than 20 years, the Kotterhof has been a well-known regional cultural center. It has hosted exhibitions, readings, theater, cabaret and concerts. The cultural program is currently on hold; check with the municipality for possible updates before visiting.

The Hohle Stein lies between Böhmfeld and Schambach and is an important Paleolithic cave site in Bavaria. More than 100 years of research there uncovered numerous objects and tools, bones, and traces of mammoths, cave bears and woolly rhinoceroses. The area’s themes thus reach far beyond the village’s medieval history, extending back to the Paleolithic.

More highlights in the wider Eichstätt destination

The wider Eichstätt destination also offers its own cultural and historical themes. The Jura Museum Eichstätt focuses its exhibits on fossils from the Solnhofen Plattenkalk limestone; the museum also displays the original Eichstätt specimen of Archaeopteryx.

Willibaldsburg was built in 1355 by Bishop Berthold Burggraf von Zollern and served as the bishop’s residence until 1725. Of the 420-meter-long castle, surviving features include walls and bastions, the arsenal, the 63-meter-long gate hall, and the Gemmingen building with its two towers. The castle is also home to the 1,500-square-meter Bastion Garden, where the Hortus Eystettensis, destroyed during the Thirty Years’ War, was brought back to life after 400 years. Visitors can discover many of the original plant species there. Cathedral Square lies on the oldest inhabited ground in the city of Eichstätt.

For an active perspective on the wider destination, the Eichstätt Fossil Trail is a concrete option: the circular route is 9 km long, moderately difficult and designated as suitable for families. Culinary experiences are another highlight: several times a year, Eichstätt’s participating restaurants serve special dishes under the motto “Eichstätt kocht...” (“Eichstätt cooks...”), including hearty Altmühltal lamb dishes.

Choose the right focus

When choosing accommodation for a trip to Böhmfeld, start by considering what you want to focus on: will you concentrate on church history and trails in the village, or would you also like to make Eichstätt’s museum, castle and garden a bigger part of your trip?

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Gaimersheim, Kinding, Schernfeld, Großmehring, Pförring, Kipfenberg, Beilngries, Wellheim

Go to the overview of the wider destination: Eichstätt.