Planning a pilgrimage in the Altmühltal

In short: Eichstätt lies on the line from Ingolstadt to Treuchtlingen. From Nuremberg or Munich you have to change trains.

The Altmühltal is easy to explore as a pilgrimage region. The routes are manageable and the train runs through the valley. Even so, there are a few things you should sort out beforehand.

Getting there

You can reach Eichstätt by train on the line from Ingolstadt to Treuchtlingen. From Nuremberg or Munich you have to change. You can get up-to-date bus and timetable information for the region from the Altmühltal Nature Park Information Centre in Eichstätt.

Where to stay

There are hardly any pilgrim hostels of the Camino kind here. You will mostly sleep in guesthouses, inns and hotels. This costs more than in Spain, so depending on the room expect much higher amounts than those on our costs page. Reserve in advance, especially at weekends and in the summer holidays, as the region is also popular with cyclists and canoeists.

Pilgrim passport

A pilgrim passport is worth having here too, especially on the Ways of St James. It is best to order one in advance from a St James society. For stamps, ask in churches, monasteries, parish offices and the tourist office.

Best time to go

May and June and September and October are the most pleasant. In high summer the river and valley are busy, and the plateaus can get hot. You can read more about the seasons in our article on the best season for a pilgrimage.

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