Willibaldsburg
Eichstätt, Germany
A hilltop castle of the prince-bishops above Eichstätt, home to the Jura Museum of local fossils and a reconstructed Renaissance garden. Parking at the castle; the walk down to the baroque town takes 20 minutes.
The Willibaldsburg towers above the Altmühl valley and was the residence of the prince-bishops of Eichstätt until 1725. Fortifications on the hill are recorded as early as 1070; from 1355 the castle was expanded into an episcopal residence. Under Prince-Bishop Johann Konrad von Gemmingen, construction of the large Gemmingenbau began in 1609 to plans by the Augsburg architect Elias Holl. During the Thirty Years' War Swedish troops took the castle. Today the Jura Museum displays fossils from the Solnhofen limestone, including an Archaeopteryx, and the Museum of Prehistory and Early History is also on the castle grounds.
The bastion garden, opened in 1998, is based on the plant book “Hortus Eystettensis” by Basilius Besler (1613). The castle is closed on Mondays, with a few exceptions on public holidays (as of October 2026); opening times change with the season, so check them beforehand.
- Nearest town
- Eichstätt, Germany
- Category
- History & culture
- GPS
- 48.8886, 11.1705
Hours, fees and access change. Confirm with the operator or park before you go.
Good to know
Best time to go
The most pleasant months are usually June–September. Still fine, with some compromises, in May. Cold, short days in December–March. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)
Getting there
- Germany: No motorway tolls for cars. No general motorway speed limit (130 km/h advised) and no tolls for cars.
Sources
Featured in these trip guides
Nearby
Campsites nearby
- Wohnmobilstellplatz EichstättMotorhome stopover2 km from WillibaldsburgTentsMotorhomesElectricityDrinking waterShowersToiletsWaste disposalDogs allowed
- Campingplatz DollnsteinCampsite7 km from WillibaldsburgTentsCaravansElectricityDrinking waterShowersToiletsWaste disposalWi-Fi
- Freizeitanlage HammermühleCampsite10 km from WillibaldsburgTentsCaravansElectricityDrinking waterShowersToiletsWaste disposal
- Naturcamping PappenheimCampsite16 km from WillibaldsburgTentsCaravansElectricityDrinking waterShowersToilets
- Campingplatz Donau-Ruderclub NeuburgCampsite17 km from WillibaldsburgTentsCaravansMotorhomesElectricityDrinking waterShowersToilets
- Azur Camping AltmühltalCampsite17 km from WillibaldsburgTentsCaravansElectricityDrinking waterShowersToiletsWaste disposalDogs allowedWi-Fi
All campsites in Germany · Campsite data: © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL 1.0 · Updated October 3, 2026
FAQs
Where is Willibaldsburg?
Willibaldsburg is in Eichstätt, Germany, at GPS 48.8886, 11.1705. It is about 13 km from Solnhofen.
Can you camp near Willibaldsburg?
Yes. The nearest campsite listed in OpenStreetMap is Wohnmobilstellplatz Eichstätt, about 2 km away; within 25 km there are 24 campsites and motorhome stopovers.
Which road trips pass Willibaldsburg?
Willibaldsburg is a stop on these CampingSpirit trip guides: Danube Gorge and Altmühl Valley: Regensburg to Eichstätt.
What is there to see near Willibaldsburg?
Places worth a stop nearby: Weltenburg Abbey (47 km), Befreiungshalle (51 km), Dinkelsbühl (65 km) and Stone Bridge, Regensburg (69 km).
When is the best time to visit Willibaldsburg?
The most pleasant months are usually June–September. Still fine, with some compromises, in May. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)