A circular route starts at the Haundorf pond and is suitable for a short evening stroll; Haundorf also has a municipal Kneipp facility where you can enjoy Kneipp water therapy. If you prefer to get active on two wheels, you’ll find cycling routes in Haundorf and the surrounding area. For a cultural perspective, look further afield to the district of Weißenburg-Gunzenhausen.
On foot: circular routes and directions
The Haundorf Trail is 3.42 kilometres long and is considered the shortest circular route in the municipality. It starts at the Haundorf pond. Following a forest path towards Haundorf, it offers views across fields and meadows at the edge of the village. This makes it a clearly defined route for a short evening stroll, with a length that’s easy to fit into your day’s plans.
The Brunnen-Quellen-Weiherweg offers a different starting point. It begins at the edge of Haundorf, opposite the cemetery, in the direction of the Haundorf pond. From there, the route follows the pond and the edge of the forest to Geislohe and the B466. The two route descriptions therefore use different landmarks: the pond for the Haundorf Trail, and the edge of the village opposite the cemetery for the Brunnen-Quellen-Weiherweg. This makes it easier to distinguish between the routes by their starting points.
Kneipp therapy and cycling in Haundorf and the surrounding area
Haundorf’s municipal Kneipp facility invites visitors to enjoy Kneipp water therapy using spring water and various fitness machines. Alongside the walking routes, it offers a dedicated activity for anyone who would like to include Kneipp therapy in their stay. The spring-water facility and the machines are specific features of this offering; no additional activity is needed to complement a walk or bike ride with another way to get active.
Cycling covers a wider area: Haundorf and its surroundings have almost 100 kilometres of developed, signposted cycling routes. The routes follow long, well-maintained paths through forests and Franconian landscapes, inviting you to relax and explore. This figure covers Haundorf and the surrounding area. It’s therefore easy to distinguish the clearly defined Haundorf circular route from a cycling network that extends further afield, without treating the two as equivalent individual routes.
Culture in the municipality of Haundorf
A cultural and historical highlight can be found in Obererlbach, a district of the municipality of Haundorf. There, St. Valentine’s Church was built in 1486 from red sandstone quarried nearby. Three bells hang in the tower. The oldest is more than 500 years old and bears the inscription of the Angelic Salutation.
The altar also reflects a later change: in 1962, the Neo-Gothic high altar was replaced by a Gothic winged altarpiece depicting the Fourteen Holy Helpers. The church’s construction, bell and altar offer different points in time to consider: its 15th-century construction, a bell more than 500 years old, and the altar’s replacement in the 20th century.
Weißenburg-Gunzenhausen: regional highlights
The wider district of Weißenburg-Gunzenhausen adds Roman history as a distinct theme. The Limes runs for around 40 kilometres across the district and has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site there since 2005. In Weißenburg, the Roman Museum displays Germany’s largest Roman treasure hoard and houses the Central Bavarian Limes Information Centre. The Wülzburg fortress stands above Weißenburg on the highest hilltop of the southern Franconian Jura, at 630 metres, and is an impressive example of Renaissance fortress architecture in Germany. Guided tours are offered there from May to October, depending on the weather; check the current tour date before visiting.
The lake district is another regional highlight. Lake Altmühlsee lies northwest of Gunzenhausen and is a popular spot for swimming, sailing and surfing. The 120-hectare Bird Island offers ornithological guided tours run by the Bavarian State Association for the Protection of Birds. If you’d like to plan a tour, check availability in advance. The district of Weißenburg-Gunzenhausen therefore offers a choice of distinct themes alongside the routes and church in the municipality of Haundorf: Roman history and nature experiences by the lake.
Discover more destinations: Absberg, Pfofeld.
View the overarching travel guide: Gunzenhausen.
