Manching

Manching is a municipality in the district of Pfaffenhofen an der Ilm, in Bavaria, Germany. It lies in the Hallertau hop-growing region, north of Ingolstadt, and is part of the Munich metropolitan area.

The locality is best known for the Oppidum of Manching, a large Celtic settlement from the late Iron Age (La Tène). Archaeological excavations since the 19th century revealed extensive defenses, a planned street network, workshops, and a rich array of artifacts illustrating long-distance trade with the wider Mediterranean world. The site is regarded as one of the largest known Celtic towns in Europe and provides important insights into pre-Roman urban life in Central Europe. It appears to have declined in the late 1st century BCE with the expansion of Roman influence in the region.

In the modern era, Manching is a rural municipality consisting of several villages and serves as a residential community for commuters to Ingolstadt and the surrounding area. Its economy combines agriculture, light industry, and services, set against a landscape that reflects its agricultural heritage and proximity to urban centers. The town continues to be associated with its archaeological heritage, which remains a defining aspect of its historical identity.