Prunn Castle

Prunn Castle (Burg Prunn) stands on a limestone cliff 70 meters above the Altmühl Valley and is one of the most picturesque castles in Bavaria. The whitewashed hilltop castle with its massive keep dates in part to around 1200 and is famous as the place where the Prunn Codex, a medieval manuscript of the Nibelungenlied, was found. It is a great stop if you are hiking or cycling in the Altmühl Valley Nature Park.

Where it is and how to get there

The castle is in the Lower Bavarian town of Riedenburg, in the Altmühl Valley roughly between Regensburg and Ingolstadt. Take Deutsche Bahn to Saal an der Donau, then bus VLK-1 to Nußhausen or Prunn, and walk about 20 minutes. With a car, follow signs for "Schloß Prunn" for about three kilometers from Riedenburg; free car and coach parking is nearby. The castle sits right on the Altmühl Valley cycle path.

Why it matters

The lords of Prunn are first mentioned in 1037. The oldest surviving fabric, the keep and the great hall, dates to around 1200. The castle passed through noble families, the Jesuits of Ingolstadt and finally the Wittelsbach dynasty in 1823, and King Ludwig I saved it from decay in 1827. Its fame rests on the Prunn Codex, a manuscript of the Nibelungenlied dated to around 1330. Its finder, the humanist Wiguläus Hund, gave it in 1575 to Duke Albrecht V; it is now kept in the Bavarian State Library in Munich.

What to see

• The exhibition tour: Redesigned in 2012, it links the castle's story to the Nibelungenlied, with themes such as hunting, clothing, law and tournaments.
• The courtyard: A fine view over the Altmühl Valley and the Main-Danube Canal.
• The chapel: Baroque stucco decoration from the Jesuit era.
• Open Castle day: On Sunday, October 18, 2026, visitors can explore on their own from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., with live music from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Tickets and opening hours (as of October 2026)

Through the end of October the castle is open daily from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.; from November it switches to winter hours, Tuesday to Sunday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. You can only enter on a guided tour, which starts on the hour in summer (last tour 5 p.m.) and at 10 a.m., 11 a.m., 2 p.m. and 3 p.m. in winter. Admission is 7 euros (6 euros reduced), and under-18s are free. A combination ticket with the Liberation Hall in Kelheim is 9 euros, and 13 euros with Walhalla as well. Call +49 9442 3323 to ask whether tours in English are available.

Practical tips

Plan one to two hours. Accessibility and dog policies are not described online, so ask before you go. Combine your visit with a bike ride or hike along the Altmühl.