Altessing can be explored through three distinct themes: the early Gothic St Martin’s Church, archaeological connections and the landscape around Schulerloch show cave. There is also an audio point on the history of the canal and a cycling route that passes through Altessing. This brings cultural history, protected landscapes and cycling together as separate points of interest. To help plan your trip, start by choosing your focus: would you like to learn about church architecture, archaeological traces, nature or the history of the canal?
Church and Archaeology
The Catholic Church of St Martin was built as an early Gothic structure in the second half of the 13th century. St Martin’s Church stands within the cemetery of the present-day parish of Essing. Its construction period and location give the church two specific historical points of reference: its place in the early Gothic period and its position within the cemetery.
The Altessing-Schule station in the AltmĂĽhltal Archaeology Park is associated with burial mounds. Alongside the church building, this offers an archaeological theme distinct from architectural history. Visitors interested in cultural history can explore these two points of interest as separate topics.
Schulerloch and Canal History
The “Schulerloch” nature reserve encompasses the northern slopes of the Altmühltal valley between Altessing and Oberau, around Schulerloch show cave. If you would like to visit the area, check the current access rules in advance. This will help you plan your visit with the area’s protected status in mind.
The audio point on the Ludwig-Donau-Main Canal in Altessing provides information about the canal’s history. It offers a different focus from the nature reserve and the show cave: here, the subject is the history of the canal. The natural landscape and the historical information are therefore two distinct topics to consider when planning your trip.
Cycling Route and Demonstrations
The AltmĂĽhl-Donau Tour passes through Altessing. If you would like to include the cycling route in your trip, check its current alignment before setting off. This gives you a practical starting point for choosing your route.
During demonstrations, the reconstructed smithy at the “Celtic Smithy with Iron Smelting Furnace” station in Altessing offers insights into prehistoric blacksmithing practices. If you would like to plan a visit around a demonstration, check the dates in advance.
Additional Context in the Wider Destination of Essing
MEMU Essing is a cultural venue in the former rectory. It hosts art exhibitions, themed exhibitions, concerts and talks. It also displays the Stone Age skeletal remains known as the “Man from Neuessing”. A permanent exhibition explores how the construction of the Main-Danube Canal changed the landscape of the Altmühltal valley. MEMU thus brings archaeological topics and the canal’s impact on the landscape together with its cultural programme.
The townscape of Essing also has its own clearly defined features: the still waters of the old AltmĂĽhl river, pale rock faces rising almost vertically and historic buildings with a medieval character. This perspective belongs to the wider destination of Essing, while Altessing focuses on the church, the archaeological station, the nature reserve and the audio point.
The nearest railway station is in Saal an der Donau. From there, visitors can take a bus via Kelheim to Essing, towards Riedenburg. Check the timetable for your travel date.
The Essing boat landing is the starting point for trips towards Riedenburg or Kelheim; some journeys also pass through the Danube Gorge. Bicycles are allowed on board the excursion boats departing from Essing, so you can combine a boat trip with a cycling tour. Check departure times when planning your trip. The Jurasteig trail leads from Essing to the town of Riedenburg, known as the Three Castles Town.
Discover more destinations: Essing.
Back to the main travel overview: Ihrlerstein.
