Nestled in the Altmühl Valley Nature Park, Beilngries is a picturesque town in Bavaria. It lies along the Rhine-Main-Danube Canal, which connects the North Sea and Atlantic Ocean with the Black Sea. Centuries-old walls surround Beilngries’ historic core while abbeys and castles dot its scenic countryside.
Things to do in Beilngries
You can pick up a self-guided walking tour of the town from the 15th-century grain store that serves as Beilngries’ tourist information centre. Architectural highlights of the town include the Kaiserbeckhaus and the Baroque-style town hall, as well as the soaring spires of the St. Walburga Church, which are decorated with green, yellow and brown tiles. Nine of the town’s original defensive towers still stand today, including the Bettelvogt Turm.
A short drive north of Beilngries is the Plankstetten Abbey, which was originally established in the 12th century by the bishops of Eichstätt. After being destroyed in the 16th century, it was rebuilt and houses a bakery, a farm and several monastery shops. Drive in the opposite direction from Beilngries and you’ll arrive at Schloss Hexenagger, a Baroque-style castle that hosts medieval festivals and Christmas markets.
Travelling with kids? Don’t miss a visit to the Dinosaurier Museum Altmühltal, which will take you on a journey back 400 million years. Follow the 1.5-kilometre-long forest trail that winds past 70 lifelike dinosaurs, then get up close to fossils and “Dracula” the pterosaur in the museum hall. Meals are served in the lakeside restaurant.
Getting around Beilngries
Beilngries is just under an hour’s drive from Nuremberg and 1.5 hours from Munich. Munich International Airport is an hour away. Buses travel to Beilngries from towns and cities across Bavaria and the town centre is compact enough to explore on foot.