Nassenfels: Roman History, Castle and Hiking Trails

If you are looking for a hotel for a stay in Nassenfels, you can plan your trip around Roman traces, the castle and hikes. The inscribed stones at St. Nicholas Parish Church and the moated castle provide a historical focus; trails and natural attractions in the surrounding area offer additional options.

Roman Inscriptions in Nassenfels

Two Roman inscribed stones are built into the wall to the right of the portal of St. Nicholas Parish Church in Nassenfels. One of the two names the Roman place name “vicus Scuttarensium.” The inscriptions point to Nassenfels as the most important Roman civilian settlement north of the Danube. At this specific location, both the recorded Roman name and the settlement’s historical significance take center stage.

Moated Castle, Castle Views and Cultural Days

Nassenfels Castle is located on the southern edge of the town, is privately owned and can only be viewed from the outside. Plan to see it from outside, and check the current visitor information before your visit. A ministerial family of the Bishops of Eichstätt is documented in records dating back to 1189 in connection with the history of the moated castle. Nassenfels therefore brings together several historical points of interest: the Roman place name on a stone and the documented ministerial family associated with the moated castle.

Cultural Days are held annually at Nassenfels Castle. If you would like to plan your trip around this event, check the dates in advance. This will allow you to coordinate your travel dates with the event schedule.

Hiking Trails and Nature in the Surrounding Area

Route 3, the main route of the Altmühltal Nature Park, runs between Nassenfels and Möckenlohe and is ideal for a hike. A spur trail connects Nassenfels and Egweil to the Urdonautalsteig trail. The places mentioned distinguish the two options for planning your hike: Möckenlohe lies along Route 3, while Nassenfels and Egweil are connected to the Urdonautalsteig by the spur trail. Check for current information about the Urdonautalsteig before setting out.

The Gleßbrunnen springs lie between Nassenfels and Wolkertshofen, in the surrounding area. They consist of five connected spring basins, 5 to 9 meters deep. They are accessible via a farm track; a visit can be combined with the 8 km “Mühlenrunde im Schuttertal” hiking route. If you are planning this outing, follow the local nature conservation guidance and check the latest information about the trail and access. This lets you combine a visit to the springs with the named hiking route without describing the springs as being within Nassenfels.

More to Explore in the Wider Destination of Eichstätt

The wider destination of Eichstätt has its own cultural and hiking attractions. The Jura Museum Eichstätt focuses on fossils from the Solnhofen Plattenkalk limestone; it also displays the original Eichstätt specimen of Archaeopteryx. The Eichstätt Fossil Trail is a moderately challenging, 9 km circular route for families.

Willibaldsburg Castle in Eichstätt was built in 1355 by Bishop Berthold Burggraf von Zollern and served as the bishop’s residence until 1725. The 420 m-long castle still features walls and bastions, the arsenal, the 63 m-long gate hall and the Gemmingen building with its two towers. In the 1,500 m² bastion garden at Willibaldsburg, the Hortus Eystettensis, destroyed during the Thirty Years’ War, was brought back to life after 400 years. There you can discover many of the garden’s original plant species.

Discover More Destinations

Discover more destinations: Adelschlag, Dollnstein, Böhmfeld, Mindelstetten, Gaimersheim, Altmannstein, Titting, Beilngries.

Back to the wider travel overview: Eichstätt.