Of noble families and magic plants

On this unique tour on beautiful paths through the lower Altmühltal, you will not only learn many historical facts about Kelheim and the surrounding area, but also get to know many local medicinal herbs, including their ingredients and use in traditional folk medicine. 

This hike is ideal for anyone who is interested in our homeland and our diverse flora in the Altmühltal and combines interesting historical facts and ethnobotanical connections with a great deal of knowledge from herbal medicine. The motto of the tour is "Hiking back to our roots".

Tour and route details: The meeting point is in front of the tour information office in Kelheim, where we start with interesting background information about the old Wittelsbach town and, after a short tour, leave the town in the direction of the old harbor. Arriving at the harbor, we can already discover and learn to identify medicinal plants and trees. At the same time, we turn our attention to the classical building of Ludwig I - the Liberation Hall. We immerse ourselves in long-forgotten days and discover exciting historical facts about our ancestors - alongside stories about the construction of the hall and the old Ludwig Canal. Our route continues along the RMD canal to the Celtic city gate with information about the old Celtic city of Alkimoennis and the Celts. We follow the waterway through beautiful woodland, past impressive rock formations and lush meadows, which invite us to discover medicinal plants and trees again and again. We cross the bridge at Essing and continue through Altessing to the place where the beautiful village of Schellneck once stood, which was once swallowed up during the construction of the RMD canal, and enjoy a short break here surrounded by beautiful nature, where we can enjoy some refreshments. Afterwards, we pass the well-preserved part of the old Ludwig Donau Main Canal and a species-rich flora with many other wild plants on our way back to the lock in Gronsdorf. Once there, we climb the path up to the Herzberg, which gives us wonderful views of the Altmühltal valley and Kelheim, and listen to more informative stories, e.g. about the former Altmühl before its expansion. Finally, we take a leisurely stroll via Maria Fels back to our starting point in the old town of Kelheim.

Length: approx. 14 km

Minimum number of people: 10
Maximum number of people: 30

The hike takes place in all weathers, except in the event of a storm warning or heavy rain. A good basic level of fitness and sturdy shoes are required. Please don't forget to pack a small snack and enough to drink. The tour is primarily aimed at adults due to its length and content. Children can take part with an accompanying person from the age of 10.

The tour is led by Daniel Kesic. He was born in Kelheim and is a tour guide for the town of Kelheim, a wild herb guide for the market town of Bad Abbach and a lecturer at the VHS-Weiterbildungsakademie Kelheim e. V. (Kelheim Adult Education Academy).