Author’s recommendation
Derived from the technical difficulty and the stamina requirements.
Track types
Tips and suggestions
Sola Basilica: https://www.solnhofen.de/Sola-Basilika.n50.html
Parish church Saint Veit: http://www.bieswang-evangelisch.de/ (then click on Churches.)
Twelve Apostles rocks: https://www.lfu.bayern.de/geologie/geotope_schoensten/62/index.htm
Jura houses Eßlingen: http://jurahaus.tilius.de/ (then select Eßlingen from the list.)
Dining options in Solnhofen: https://www.solnhofen.de/Gastronomie.n48.html
Dining option 13 Apostel in Eßlingen: http://www.dreizehnter-apostel.de/index.php#
Premium circular route "Devil meets Apostles" No. 3: https://www.solnhofen.de/Premium-Rundweg-Teufel-trifft-Apostel-Nr.-3.o1020.html
Roadbook
From the bridge, we go briefly to the right, pass under the railway line to the left, and hike along the forest edge to the right of the valley. Along the way, we see the Twelve Apostles rocks on the opposite side of the valley. After a left curve of the path, we reach the forest edge, where we take the path through the forest along the ridge to the right. We climb briefly upwards, reach a rest area, and climb up the path to the right of the hut to the Devil's Pulpit. From here we have a beautiful view over the Altmühl valley with the Twelve Apostles rocks on the right side.
We then descend on the other side via the path into the valley, where we take the path to the left at the railway line. We now hike above the railway line, then keep right at a wider path and walk straight on via Mühlweg into Solnhofen. At the end, we turn right and immediately after that left into Ferdinand-Arauner-Straße. On the right, we see the parish church of Saint Veit, which we walk down to, and come to the left to the Sola Basilica, where we can see the foundations of various churches on this site from the middle of the 7th to the first half of the 9th century. We now go to the parish church Saint Veit from the second half of the 18th century, whose interior is also worth seeing due to its furnishings.
We go over the path to the street, turn left, cross the bridge over the Altmühl, and turn right into Benediktstraße. We then keep to the left uphill on the street Am Gsteig, where at the end we reach the main street through the Altmühl valley via a small staircase. On the other side, we take the Hochholzer Weg slightly to the right, first following it straight ahead, then keeping right. After the last houses, we turn right onto the Altmühl Panorama Trail.
We now hike along the upper edge of the valley and continually have a great view of the Twelve Apostles rocks. At the first rocks, it is possible to descend a bit to the rock needle, from where the view over the valley to Solnhofen on one side and the Twelve Apostles rocks on the other side is magnificent. We then walk for a short time directly above the rocks and repeatedly enjoy the views. At the very end, we descend via the path, keep left, and at the street turn right. We now walk into Eßlingen, turn right at the end, and pass old Jura houses, the yellowish-ochre one dating from the 16th century. Passing the well-frequented dining option "13 Apostel" during our hike, we reach the main street and, on the other side, the bridge over the Altmühl, our starting point.
Public transport
Public-transport-friendly
If you arrive by public transport, start in Solnhofen.
For example, hourly regional trains from Nuremberg to Solnhofen, changing in Treuchtlingen when using the Regional Express, or from Ingolstadt about hourly with the regional train to Solnhofen
Please check the timetable: https://www.bahn.de/p/view/index.shtml
Directions
For example, from Ingolstadt take B 13 to Eichstätt and continue towards Weißenburg. After Eichstätt, turn left at the roundabout on the heights and drive over St2047 via Schernfeld and Schönfeld to Esslingen.
Or from Nuremberg take the A 9 to the Kinding exit, turn right and drive until just before Eichstätt. Turn right onto St 2225 and shortly before Preith head towards B 13. At the roundabout go straight ahead on St2047 via Schernfeld and Schönfeld to Esslingen.
The parking lot is located to the left of the town on the other side of the bridge over the Altmühl.
Parking
Limited parking spaces at the bridge over the Altmühl in Eßlingen
Alternatively, you can park at the station parking lot and at the upper end of Hochholzer Weg in Solnhofen.
Coordinates
Author’s map recommendations
Map ATK25 J09 from the State Office for Digitization, Broadband and Surveying, Pappenheim-Treuchtlingen-Schernfeld-Dollstein-Langenaltheim-Solnhofen-Mörnsheim, 1:25,000, ISBN 978-3-89933-414-2
Digital map BayernAtlas: https://geoportal.bayern.de/bayernatlas/?lang=de&topic=ba&catalogNodes=11,122&bgLayer=atkis (Click "Background" at the bottom right and select "Topographic map", then check hiking trails on the left and zoom the map larger. Then the marked hiking trails appear.)
Book recommendations for this region:
Equipment
Hiking shoes, appropriate for the weatherLocalization
Derived from the technical difficulty and the stamina requirements.

User Questions