Muhr am See: Bird Migration and Local History

Nature and Bird Migration

The bird island near Muhr am See, which covers more than 200 hectares, is one of Bavaria’s most important protected areas for migratory birds. The island has an interactive educational trail. The permanent exhibition “Altmühlsee Habitat – The Fascination of Bird Migration” at the LBV Altmühlsee Environmental Education Center in Altenmuhr also focuses on nature: using interactive models, it shows how the Altmühlsee was created, the water transfer project and bird migration. The trail and exhibition have different focuses: one highlights the island’s natural environment, while the other uses models to explain connections between the lake and bird migration.

Local History and Culture

The Muhrer Gate Tower is the town’s landmark and part of its fortifications. The original moated castle in Altenmuhr dates back to the 12th century. In Neuenmuhr, St. James’s Church was built between 1618 and 1622 by Joachim Christoph von Lentersheim as a choir-tower church. The three buildings offer different historical points of reference: town fortifications, castle history and church architecture.

The stork information center is next to St. James’s Church in Neuenmuhr. The municipality and the LBV set up the information center in the renovated old weigh house. It is open to visitors during the day in the summer months; check current local information about opening hours before your visit. The Altmühlsee Festival takes place every summer in Muhr am See. If you would like to plan your stay around a performance, check the latest event dates in advance.

Routes and Places to Visit by the Lake

Muhr am See has an interactive cycling route about storks. On the return journey to the LBV Altmühlsee Environmental Education Center, the Storchenweg 2 cycle route passes through the half-timbered gatehouse in Muhr am See. The Muhr am See lakeside center also has a boat landing. So, in addition to nature and history, local attractions include a cycling route and a specific place to visit by the water.

Weißenburg-Gunzenhausen as a Wider Regional Destination

Beyond Muhr am See, the wider travel destination of Weißenburg-Gunzenhausen offers its own focus on Roman history. The Limes runs for around 40 kilometers across the district of Weißenburg-Gunzenhausen and has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site there since 2005. The Roman Museum in Weißenburg displays Germany’s largest Roman treasure find and houses the Central Bavarian Limes Information Center. Weißenburg’s Roman heritage also includes the Roman Baths; throughout the district, numerous Roman watchtowers, forts and fragments of bath buildings bear witness to Roman history.

Another regional cultural attraction is the Wülzburg: the former Ansbach Hohenzollern fortress stands above Weißenburg on the highest hilltop of the southern Franconian Jura, at 630 meters, and is an impressive example of Renaissance fortress architecture in Germany. Guided tours are offered there from May to October, weather permitting; check the latest visitor information before your trip.

Routes in the wider travel destination of Weißenburg-Gunzenhausen also vary in type and length. The “Via Biriciana” hiking trail follows old Roman roads to the Limes. The Altmühltal Panorama Trail runs for 200 kilometers along the Altmühl from Gunzenhausen to Kelheim through the Altmühltal Nature Park. The Altmühltal Cycle Route runs for around 160 kilometers from Gunzenhausen to Kelheim through the nature park. These regional routes complement the local cycling and nature attractions in Muhr am See without being the same as them.

Discover more destinations: Nennslingen, Thalmannsfeld, Gunzenhausen, Weißenburg in Bayern

Back to the regional travel overview: Weißenburg-Gunzenhausen.