Willibaldsburg Castle

Willibaldsburg Castle towers over the town of Eichstätt and the Altmühl Valley in Upper Bavaria, roughly halfway between Munich and Nuremberg. For centuries it was the seat of the prince-bishops of Eichstätt. Today it houses the Jura Museum, famous for its Archaeopteryx fossil, a museum of prehistory and a garden recreating one of Europe's most celebrated Renaissance botanical gardens.

Where it is and how to get there

Eichstätt is about 100 km (60 miles) north of Munich. By train, travel to Eichstätt Bahnhof on the Munich–Ingolstadt–Treuchtlingen line and change to the short shuttle line into town (Eichstätt Stadt); from there a bus runs to just below the castle. The Deutschlandticket is valid on regional trains. Drivers can park in the castle's outer bailey or at the vocational school lot on Burgstraße.

Why it matters

The bishops founded the castle in 1355. Around 1600, Prince-Bishop Johann Conrad von Gemmingen had it rebuilt as a grand residence by Elias Holl, the architect of Augsburg's town hall. At the castle, the bishop's apothecary and botanist Basilius Besler tended a garden documented in the 1613 masterpiece Hortus Eystettensis. The region is also world-famous for its Jurassic fossils from the Solnhofen limestone.

What you will see

• Jura Museum: fossils from a tropical lagoon world about 150 million years old, including an Archaeopteryx and the only known specimen of the dinosaur Juravenator, plus a coral-reef aquarium
• Museum of Prehistory and Early History: a mammoth skeleton and the only Roman surveying instrument (groma) found north of the Alps
• Bastion Garden: opened in 1998 and inspired by the Hortus Eystettensis
• The castle well and views over the valley

Opening hours and tickets (as of October 2026)

• April to October 3: Tuesday to Sunday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• October 4 to March: Tuesday to Sunday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• Closed Mondays (except some holidays); last entry 45 minutes before closing

Admission is €6 (reduced €5), free for under 18s, and covers both museums and the castle grounds. The observation tower has been closed for construction work, so check on arrival.

Is it worth visiting?

Yes, especially for families and anyone fascinated by dinosaurs and fossils. Allow 1.5 to 3 hours, then walk down to Eichstätt's baroque old town and cathedral. Dogs are not allowed in the museums or the garden. The castle also makes a great stop on a cycling or hiking trip through the Altmühl Valley Nature Park.