Lauf a.d.Pegnitz: History and Industrial Heritage

Wenzelschloss Castle and the Market Square

Wenzelschloss Castle stands on an island in the Pegnitz River, on the site of the former imperial castle that was destroyed. Emperor Charles IV had it built between 1356 and 1360 as a secondary residence. However, he mainly used the castle as a resting place on his way to his imperial residence in Prague. The period in which it was built and the way it was used give the castle a clearly defined historical role.

Lauf’s market square was laid out in the 13th century on the “Golden Road” between Nuremberg and Prague. The Old Town Hall stands free in its centre, and two city gates frame the square. Shops and restaurants around the historic market square invite visitors to shop and dine. The two focal points of the old town thus have distinct characters: Wenzelschloss Castle tells the story of Charles IV and his journey to Prague, while the market square brings together the historic urban setting and its use today.

Industrial History at the Museum

The Lauf Industrial Museum presents more than 120 years of industrial history across 4,000 m² in 14 listed buildings. One of its special features is the Engelhardt hammer mill, one of the last surviving examples of its kind in Bavaria. Hands-on stations explain technical concepts through experiments and play. Examples include a steam engine model that visitors can set in motion and trains that are moved by muscle power. The specific installations may change over time.

Mills also bring technical processes to life: the water-powered rye mill is operated during demonstrations and every year on Whit Monday for German Mill Day. The Reichl grinding mill and the hammer mill are also operated to show visitors how they work. If you would like to attend a demonstration, check the relevant dates before your trip.

The free audio guide “What Was Emperor Charles IV Doing in Lauf?” offers explanations at twelve listening stations about historic places and buildings in the town, and is aimed especially at families, children and young people. Check whether the app is available before using it. Through the Stadtführer Lauf e.V. and Altstadtfreunde Lauf e.V. associations, you can visit the Wappensaal and the exhibitions of the town of Lauf in the Kaisersaal and Herrenstube; check the current visiting arrangements in advance. A beer tour of the historic old town, which can be booked in advance, ends with a beer tasting at the museum. Check availability and details again before your trip.

Cycling Routes in and Around Lauf

The 35.6-kilometre Lauf circular cycling route invites you to explore the Pegnitz town and its districts by bike. The town’s cycling network connects with the Industrial Heritage Cycle Route, the Five Rivers Cycle Route and the Paris–Lauf–Prague Paneuropean Cycle Route. The Industrial Museum is also a specific point of interest for tours: the Five Rivers Cycle Route passes by it, and the museum is a stop on the Industrial History cycle tour.

Another option is the Sinnesradweg, which leads to Tauchersreuth. The village is the highest point in Lauf and offers a viewpoint. Lauf therefore offers a range of cycling excursions: a loop that takes in the town and its districts, tours focused on industrial history, and a route with a viewpoint as its destination.

About the Nuremberg Region

Across the wider Nuremberg Region destination, more than 3,000 kilometres of clearly marked hiking trails and well-developed cycling paths offer routes of varying difficulty. The Nuremberg Region is also part of the Franconian Switzerland–Veldenstein Forest Nature Park. This information describes the wider destination; local points of interest in Lauf include the cycling routes mentioned above, the Sinnesradweg and the historic and technical attractions.

Discover more destinations: Kirchensittenbach, Reichenschwand, Schnaittach, Röthenbach an der Pegnitz, Hartenstein, Engelthal, Hersbruck, Happurg.

Go to the main travel overview: Nuremberg Region.