Walting between juniper heath and Roman fort

Walting brings together nature and Roman history, as well as activities along the Altmühl. The places and activities differ in which aspects of the municipality they highlight.

Juniper heath and how it came to be

The Gungolding Juniper Heath is a nature reserve covering about 70 hectares on the northern slope of the Altmühl Valley near Gungolding. It is home to dry grassland plants, including spring gentian, fringed gentian and German gentian. This means the natural area is defined by a specific range of plants, not just by its location in the Altmühl Valley.

The landscape’s history is also part of its character: the heath was created in the Middle Ages through forest clearance and grazing. Those interested in the landscape not only as a natural area, but also in how it came about, will find both here—dry grassland vegetation and a history of land use dating back to the Middle Ages.

Roman heritage in Pfünz

Vetoniana fort was established around 90 AD. Today, the north gate, a corner tower and part of the defensive wall have been rebuilt. The fort also has a Roman guardroom that has been partially restored to match the original. The Roman fort Castra Vetoniana in the district of Pfünz is considered a UNESCO World Heritage Site in the context of the Limes.

The Pfünz Roman history trail explores further aspects of the fort’s history: its nine stations around the Roman fort explain the fort’s history and layout, as well as the camp village with its temples and houses. The subject therefore extends beyond the fortifications to include the associated settlement and its buildings.

Two trails, different focuses

Both the topics covered and the number of stations are useful for comparing the trails. The Pfünz Roman history trail has nine stations around Vetoniana Roman fort. The Pfünz Wetlands Trail covers the development of wetlands, fauna and flora, high and old water levels of the Altmühl, Dutch elm disease and river regulation measures across twenty stations. The two trails therefore have different focuses: Roman history and topics related to wetlands and waterways.

The Altmühlleiten Wellbeing Trail starts at the car park of the Church of the Assumption in Gungolding. Canoeing on the Altmühl through the municipality of Walting is another activity. These options offer different starting points for planning your trip without equating the trails with one another.

Limes art and traces of history

Art in Walting also takes up the Limes theme: KUNSTamBANDamLIMES consists of seven sculptures that visualize the Upper Germanic-Rhaetian Limes UNESCO World Heritage Site. The installation thus offers its own perspective alongside the Roman fort and its history trail.

Another trace of history can be found in Rieshofen. The keep, about 17 to 18 metres high, is all that remains of the former moated castle. Its approximate height provides a distinct point of reference alongside the reconstructed parts of the fort; the two sites represent different historic structures in Walting.

Discover more destinations: Wasserzell.

See the main travel overview: Eichstätt.