Spalt: Historic Old Town, Beer Culture and Circular Routes in the Hills

Key facts

• The parish church of St. Emmeram was built around 1150 to 1195 as the church of the noble collegiate foundation of St. Emmeram and was later altered several times.
• St. Emmeram houses the Late Gothic Spalatin Madonna, which Georg Spalatin gave to his hometown.
• HopfenBierGut brings the world of hops and beer to life interactively across 1,200 square metres.
• The Spalt History Trail lets you explore the historic old town on a guided tour or at your own pace.
• At the Spalter Bierwerkstatt in HopfenBierGut, you can brew your own beer under the guidance of the master brewer.
• Regular Sunday tours at HopfenBierGut are followed by a beer tasting and a glass to take home.
• The public tour of the town brewery combines insights into the work of the beer makers with a tasting.
• An award-winning circular trail runs through the Spalt hills; Spalt also has more than 20 circular hiking trails.

Church, Old Town and the Spalatin Madonna

The parish church of St. Emmeram was built around 1150 to 1195 as the church of the noble collegiate foundation of St. Emmeram. It was rebuilt several times in the 16th and 17th centuries, and its interior was given a Baroque design. Its architectural history therefore shows distinct phases: changes that shaped the church interior followed the original construction period.

The Late Gothic Spalatin Madonna creates a special link with Wittenberg. It is housed in St. Emmeram and originally stood in Wittenberg Castle Church. Georg Spalatin gave it to his hometown of Spalt. If you are interested in art and the historical connections between places, this work offers a tangible point of connection. To explore the historic old town, the Spalt History Trail offers both a guided tour and a route you can follow independently, allowing you to choose between a guided interpretation and exploring on your own.

Experience Hops and Beer

HopfenBierGut is dedicated to the world of hops and beer: across 1,200 square metres, visitors can explore it interactively in a building more than 550 years old. The venue is accessible to all visitors. The combination of interactive interpretation and a historic building makes this visit different in focus from exploring church architecture and art.

If you would like to try brewing for yourself, you can brew your own beer at the Spalter Bierwerkstatt in HopfenBierGut under the expert guidance of the master brewer. Course options and booking conditions may change; check them before booking. On the regular Sunday tours of HopfenBierGut, held at 10:30 a.m., visitors then taste 0.2 litres of Spalter beer at the ProBierBar and receive an original 0.2-litre HopfenBierGut glass to take home. The programme may change; check the tour details before travelling.

The public tour of Spalt Town Brewery offers a different perspective: visitors can watch the beer makers at work and learn what makes Spalter beer special. This is followed by a tasting of various Spalter beer specialities. Tours are scheduled year-round on Saturdays at 11 a.m.; booking by the previous day is required. Before travelling, check whether your preferred tour is taking place and which tasting arrangements are available.

Hiking and Exploring the Town

The circular trail through the Spalt hills, awarded by the German Hiking Association, leads to scenic gorges and natural monuments and past castles and fortifications. Its landscape includes dark coniferous forests, bright mixed forests and open pine forests. The trail also passes through church gardens with seasonal blossoms or red cherries, and through landscapes shaped by hop cultivation.

Spalt also has more than 20 circular hiking trails that pass natural monuments such as Schnittlinger Loch and Massendorfer Gorge, as well as Wernfels Castle. You can choose between an award-winning trail with described landscape and cultural features and other circular hiking routes with named natural landmarks. Free parking is available at the historic Kornhaus, a good starting point for exploring the town. From there, you can explore Spalt; check parking information before your trip, as it may change.

Discover more destinations: Heideck, Thalmässing, Hilpoltstein.

FAQ

Which architectural phases shape the parish church of St. Emmeram?

It was built around 1150 to 1195 as the church of the noble collegiate foundation. Several renovations followed in the 16th and 17th centuries, along with a Baroque redesign of the interior.

What is the connection between the Spalatin Madonna and Wittenberg?

The Late Gothic Madonna is housed in St. Emmeram and originally stood in Wittenberg Castle Church. Georg Spalatin gave it to his hometown of Spalt.

How do HopfenBierGut and the town brewery tour differ?

HopfenBierGut presents the world of hops and beer interactively; it also offers a brewing workshop and tours. On the public tour of the town brewery, you can watch the beer makers at work. This is followed by a tasting of various Spalter beer specialities.

When are tours of the town brewery scheduled?

Tours are scheduled year-round on Saturdays at 11 a.m. Booking by the previous day is required. Before travelling, check whether your preferred tour is taking place.

What hiking options are there in Spalt?

The award-winning circular trail through the Spalt hills leads to gorges and natural monuments and past castles and fortifications. There are also more than 20 circular hiking trails, including routes along Schnittlinger Loch and Massendorfer Gorge, and past Wernfels Castle.

Where can I park when exploring Spalt?

Free parking is available at the historic Kornhaus, from where you can explore Spalt. Check parking information before your trip.

Go to the main travel overview: Roth.