Lauf a.d.Pegnitz: Wenzelschloss, Market Square and Industrial Heritage

Lauf a.d.Pegnitz combines urban history and technical heritage with outdoor activities. Wenzelschloss and the Market Square represent different historical aspects, while the Industrial Museum focuses on industrial history. There are also cycling routes and a viewpoint in Tauchersreuth. You can shape your stay around architectural history, museum themes or routes through the town and its districts.

Wenzelschloss and the Market Square

The present-day Wenzelschloss was built by Emperor Charles IV on an island in the Pegnitz between 1356 and 1360. It was constructed on the site of the Imperial castle that had previously been destroyed and was intended as a secondary residence. However, Charles IV used the castle mainly as a resting place on his way to his imperial residence in Prague. The commission and its use offer two insights into the site’s historical role.

Lauf’s Market Square also points to a connection with Prague: it was laid out in the 13th century on the “Golden Road” between Nuremberg and Prague. The Old Town Hall stands free in the centre, and two town gates frame the square. Shops and restaurants around the historic Market Square invite you to shop and dine. Those interested in urban history will find a different point of reference here than on the island in the Pegnitz: the design of a square on a historic road.

Industrial history at the museum

The Lauf Industrial Museum presents more than 120 years of industrial history across 4,000 square metres in 14 listed buildings. The buildings and installations provide a tangible setting for the subject. Among the notable examples of technical heritage is the Engelhardt hammer mill, one of the last surviving installations of its kind in Bavaria.

Mills are 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 Reichl’sche grinding mill and the hammer mill are also still operated to show visitors how they work. Hands-on stations explain technical concepts through experiments and play. Examples include a steam engine model that is set in motion and trains that are moved by muscle power.

A beer tour through the historic Old Town, which can be booked in advance, ends with a beer tasting at the museum. Check availability and current packages before your trip.

Cycling routes and viewpoint

The 35.6-kilometre Lauf Circular Cycling Route invites you to explore the town on the Pegnitz and its districts by bicycle. The cycling network in Lauf also connects with the Industrial Heritage Cycle Route, the Five Rivers Cycle Route and the Paris–Lauf–Prague Paneuropean Cycle Route. The Five Rivers Cycle Route passes the Industrial Museum, which is also a stop on the Industrial History Cycle Tour. This makes it possible to consider cycling and industrial heritage together when planning a trip, without conflating the different routes.

The Sinnesradweg leads to Tauchersreuth. As Lauf’s highest point, Tauchersreuth offers a viewpoint and provides a scenic highlight alongside the town’s historic sites and technical installations.

Visits and orientation

The free audio guide “What Did Emperor Charles IV Do in Lauf?” offers historical explanations at twelve listening points around Lauf’s historic squares and buildings. It is particularly aimed at families, children and young people. Check whether the app is available before using it.

The Coat of Arms Hall and the exhibitions of the town of Lauf in the Kaisersaal and Herrenstube can be visited through the Stadtführer Lauf e.V. and Altstadtfreunde Lauf e.V. As visiting arrangements may change, check the current packages in advance.

Nuremberg Land as a regional setting

Across the wider travel destination of Nuremberg Land, more than 3,000 kilometres of excellently marked hiking trails and well-developed cycling routes offer varying levels of difficulty. This regional choice of routes complements the specific cycling routes in Lauf with a broader perspective for planning a stay.

Discover more destinations: Nuremberg, Burgthann, Hersbruck, Henfenfeld, Kirchensittenbach, Happurg, Fischbach, Schwarzenbruck

Go to the full travel overview: Nuremberg Land.