Zeitlarn: River Landscape and Local History

The landscape along the Regen, the history of its districts and the picture-book trails reveal different sides of Zeitlarn. Historic buildings and archaeological traces add to the picture of the town.

Landscape along the Regen

In western Zeitlarn, foothills of the Upper Palatinate Jura form a steep riverbank slope down to the Regen. The river lies 70 metres below. The name of the district of Regendorf derives from this ridge. In eastern Zeitlarn, a street settlement lies between the Regen and a mountainside on the foothills of the Falkensteiner Vorwald. The historical development of both districts was shaped by their location beside the river and an old trade and transport route. This route led north from the nearby Free Imperial City of Regensburg.

Regendorf’s history and churches in Zeitlarn

From the 13th to the 15th century, Regendorf was a noble estate belonging to the Lords of Regeldorff. After 1505, it developed into a sought-after Hofmark (a manorial estate with jurisdiction), with a castle and castle church, and remained part of Palatinate-Neuburg until 1808. These milestones mark different phases in the town’s history: the medieval noble estate and its later development into a Hofmark.

The Catholic parish church of St Bartholomew in Zeitlarn is a listed, three-aisled Romanesque Revival basilica with a recessed choir and a flanking tower. Roth built it in 1898/99. Also listed is the Catholic branch church of the Holy Trinity, a Romanesque Revival choir-tower church with an apse, dating from 1907. The two churches represent different Romanesque Revival forms: a basilica and a choir-tower church.

South of the Holy Trinity stands a war memorial to 1914–18. Max Roider created it in 1924 in the form of an Irish high cross made of shell limestone. The former castle park is also among Zeitlarn’s historic grounds: it is laid out in the English style and includes a former vegetable and fruit garden, terraces, steps and fountains. The grounds date from the 18th century and from the period after 1840.

Excavations in the municipality uncovered traces of settlement from the Bronze Age, the Hallstatt period, the La Tène period and the Middle Ages. These finds add a much older history of settlement to the later buildings.

Picture-book trails and cycling route

The picture-book trails are a project by the Zeitlarn library, designed to introduce children to reading, exercise and nature. They follow forest paths and start in the districts of Zeitlarn, Laub and Regendorf. Each trail features twelve panels with pages from picture books by Felix Neureuther, along with related movement exercises or nature games. The trails are each about 1.5 to 2 kilometres long. Walking alone takes approximately 20 to 30 minutes; with reading, exercise and games, the time increases to about 1.5 hours. This distinguishes the time spent walking from the time allowed for the stops and activities.

The Five Rivers Cycle Route offers another point of reference for cyclists: it passes through Regendorf, a district of Zeitlarn. While the picture-book trails follow forest paths, Regendorf is a stop along this cycle route.

Discover more destinations: Hemau, Brennberg, Wenzenbach, Lappersdorf, Wolfsegg, Laaber, Barbing, Bach an der Donau

Go to the main travel overview: Regensburg.