Berching Cittaslow and jewel of the Middle Ages

With more than 1100 years, Berching is one of the oldest settlements in the region in the middle of the Altmühltal Nature Park in Bavaria. History and tradition have shaped the city. Four ancient city gates, a completely preserved city wall with partially accessible battlements and 13 pointed, fortified towers characterize the impressive, medieval townscape of Berching.

Behind the city wall from the 15th century , magnificent, colourful town houses are neatly lined up, with half-timbered houses and mighty barns squeezed in between. They still bear witness to the wealth of the merchant town today. Wide, cobbled squares, winding alleys and a babbling city stream invite you to take a tranquil stroll through the old town. Traditional, cosy restaurants and cafés will be happy to spoil you here in the town of Cittaslow . Three parks invite you to linger, to fitness or to play.

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City on the water

Berching from the air, Image: City of Berching

The state-approved resort in the district of Neumarkt, picturesquely embedded in the Sulztal, is not only a true gem of the Middle Ages, but also a city on the water and that has a tradition: As early as 1846, King Ludwig I built the one named after him and still preserved today. Ludwig-Danube-Main Canal. Since 1992, Berching has been located directly on the Main-Danube Canal, the great European waterway. An unforgettable premium experience here is a contemplative tow ride on the barge “Alma Viktoria” on the old Ludwig Canal – pulled by a horse, just like in the old days.

Discover Berching

Whether it’s tours through the historic old town of Berching, culinary tours for connoisseurs or an adventure tour with entertaining acting scenes – our gem has something for every taste. Our tour guides inform and entertain visitors warmly and competently. Here every group will find the right thing for themselves!

Cycling and hiking paradise

Berching city wall — The city wall, Image: City of Berching

For cyclists and e-bikers, the canal has its own fascination: Bamberg, Nuremberg, Regensburg, Vienna – can be reached from Berching in hours or days by bike. The Five Rivers Cycle Route runs 200 km through Bavaria, along the Pegnitz, Vils, Naab, Danube and Altmühl rivers. The popular Franconian Water Cycle Path also leads directly through Berching, and the Altmühltal Cycle Path is also nearby. Healthy air, intact nature, murmuring streams, forest and field as far as the eye can see. Nature invites you to hike around Berching. Seven signposted circular hiking trails show the most beautiful corners of the municipality. Hikers can reach great vantage points and natural monuments such as the High Fountain, caves or the wildly romantic tufa terraces. A detour away from Berching is the Altmühltal Panorama Trail, one of Germany’s top trails, whose Sulztal loop runs directly over Berching.

But four certified long-distance hiking trails also lead through Berching. The most famous is probably the Frankenweg, which goes from the Rennsteig to the Swabian Alb. After a bike tour or hike, you can relax wonderfully in the Berching adventure pool with hot whirlpool, 50 m slide, children’s paddling pool, lazy river, steam bath and outdoor area with sunbathing lawn. Boat trips from Kelheim through the Danube Gorge or tow tours on the Ludwig Canal complete the diverse, attractive hiking, cycling and sightseeing offer in and around Berching.

Active & Family

A successful active holiday also includes experiences. Berching and its surroundings leave nothing to be desired: from fishing, Nordic walking, swimming, boat tours on the Altmühl, to horseback riding, hang-gliding, mini golf, inline skating, photography, yoga, meditation, climbing, bowling, stand-up paddling or golf, there is something for everyone here. Families can also redesign every day in the middle of the Altmühl Valley Nature Park, visit the appropriate water experience playground, get up close and personal with animals, collect fossils, visit an interesting museum, an amusement park or take part in guided adventure tours.

Culture and tradition

A trademark of Berching is undoubtedly culture – with traditional festivals, theater, concerts and much more. Berching is the birthplace of the great opera reformer Christoph Willibald Gluck. In addition to the birthplace and the Gluckwanderweg (in the districts of Weidenwang and Erasbach), a modern multimedia presentation in the Berching Museum, the Gluck event taking place in the summer and the new cultural hall commemorate the famous son of the city. Since 1722, the “Berchinger Rossmarkt” has taken place every year at the beginning of February. Up to 100 horses are rounded up at Bavaria’s largest winter folk festival in the historic city centre.

Culinary magic

You are guaranteed to experience your personal “Schmackofatz moments” here in the Cittaslow town of Berching ! Berching’s restaurateurs rely on Slow Food cuisine in many places. With brilliant creations, they pamper their guests to the highest level all year round and focus on regional, seasonal and down-to-earth cuisine. In terms of culinary delights, you should not miss the Berching Cittaslow Spring Kitchen. In March, the participating inns are focusing on bringing you healthy and energetic into spring. The counterpart to this is the Wild Autumn in October, where the chefs serve game dishes and autumnal culinary delights.

The Benedictine Abbey of Plankstetten Monastery

The “green monastery” Plankstetten with an organic farm shop presents itself as a spiritual centre. The Romanesque monastery church invites you to contemplation. In the monastery tavern and in the farm shop, the monks provide for the physical well-being with ecologically produced food.

Celebrations

In summer, our festivals Berchinale and “Kanal im Feuerzauber” attract people to the city. On these weekends you can expect a colourful programme with music, art, paddle boat races, duck races, light art, large fireworks on the Main-Danube Canal and much more. Always on the 3rd weekend of Advent, the romantic Christmas market with nativity scene exhibition takes place in the historic city centre.

You can feel the real flair of Berching when you walk through winding alleys, along centuries-old buildings to dreamy squares.

Conferences in Berching

Berching is located between the cities of Nuremberg, Regensburg and Munich and is an ideal place for conferences, seminars and workshops of all kinds. Here you will find many numerous conference houses with bright, light-flooded conference rooms and top technical equipment of the finest!

Excursion destinations nearby

Due to its central location, Berching is an ideal starting point for the many attractive excursion destinations in the surrounding area: how about a day trip to the UNESCO World Heritage City of Regensburg, the Franconian metropolis of Nuremberg, the episcopal cities, Amberg and Eichstätt, or the Palatine city of Neumarkt? It is only 15 minutes by car to the natural bathing lake Kratzmühle with sandy beach, boat rental, mini golf course and lake café. The surfing and bathing paradise Franconian Lake District is also not far away. Whether it’s a fossil hunt in an old quarry, an exciting bird of prey show at Rosenburg Castle in Riedenburg, a stalactite cave, monasteries or an open-air museum, the “Altmühltal Nature Park Experience” attracts visitors with its many attractions.