Discover Emerkingen: Church Art and the Roman Tower

Emerkingen combines a distinct focus on art history with a separate sight worth visiting: St. James the Greater Parish Church contains works spanning several centuries, and the Roman Tower is another possible destination. The church’s works are notable above all for their varied subject matter and dates. The Roman Tower has its own visiting arrangements: visits are possible by prior arrangement with the municipal administration. This gives you a clear set of themes to explore the town’s cultural highlights and lets you plan the tower as a separate stop that must be arranged in advance.

Works of Art in St. James the Greater

St. James the Greater Parish Church houses a late Gothic Madonna by the Master of Dornstadt, dating from 1430. A Baroque cross from the 18th century hangs on the left choir wall. The choir also contains a Crucifixion group created in 1955 as a copy of an altar by Matthias Grünewald. Another feature is a rare 19th-century depiction of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ as a Holy Sepulchre image. Ceiling paintings depicting scenes from the Gospels complete the church’s interior.

The dates illustrate the range of periods represented: the 1430 Madonna is followed by the 18th-century cross and the 19th-century Holy Sepulchre image, while the Crucifixion group from 1955 adds a later note. The subjects also vary: the Madonna, cross, Crucifixion and Resurrection each have their own focus, while the ceiling paintings draw on themes from the Gospels. Those interested in religious art can therefore view the works both in terms of when they were created and the subjects they depict. The Crucifixion group also refers to an altar by Matthias Grünewald as its model.

Visiting the Roman Tower

A visit to the Roman Tower must be arranged in advance: visits are possible by prior arrangement with the municipal administration, and you must register through Emerkingen town hall. Contact the municipal administration directly to make arrangements before your visit. This stop differs from viewing the artworks: contacting the administration is an explicit part of planning a visit to the tower.

More Culture and Nature in the Alb-Donau District

The wider travel destination of the Alb-Donau District offers further regional perspectives alongside Emerkingen’s local cultural attractions. Hohle Fels near Schelklingen is a UNESCO World Heritage cave and the discovery site of the “Venus of Hohle Fels” and the “Geierknochenflöte” (Vulture Bone Flute); both finds are about 42,500 years old. The Obermarchtal Monastery complex stands directly above the Danube and took on its present form between 1686 and 1795. It is the former Premonstratensian abbey in the Alb-Donau District. Blaubeuren Monastery was founded in 1085 as a Benedictine monastery; its present buildings are mainly Gothic and date from 1466 to 1510. The Stone Age village of Ehrenstein in Blaustein is another regional cultural attraction: it is a Neolithic settlement in the Blau valley and part of the transnational serial UNESCO World Heritage site “Prehistoric Pile Dwellings around the Alps.”

The hiking and cycling options in the Alb-Donau District also vary in route length and duration. The 20 “Eiszeitpfade” (Ice Age Trails) circular routes are 6 to 14 kilometres long and are suitable for day hikes. The family-friendly “Eiszeitspuren” (Ice Age Tracks) cover 1 to 6 kilometres; the Reflection Trail is intended for multi-day tours. Themed cycling routes range from the 75-kilometre “Eiszeittäler” (Ice Age Valleys) route and the 115-kilometre “Berg Bier-Tour” (Mountain Beer Tour) to the 186-kilometre “Albtäler” (Alb Valleys) cycle route, which has been awarded four stars. The Alb-Donau District is also part of the Swabian Alb Biosphere Reserve.

Discover more destinations: Griesingen, Blaubeuren, Illerrieden, Heroldstatt, Nellingen, Ehingen, Breitingen, Laichingen.

Back to the main travel overview: Alb-Donau District.