Discover Monheim: Half-timbered houses, gates and history

Monheim’s town history can be discovered through its buildings and routes: the town gates and towers shape the townscape together with the half-timbered facades of the Moserhäuser on the market square. From traces of the Middle Ages to church architecture and present-day discovery tours, there are various ways to explore the history of the town.

Half-timbered houses, town gates and church architecture

The Moserhäuser adjoin the Upper Gate, also known as the Donauwörth Gate. Together, they are a landmark of Monheim. The gate was built around 1350; the Moserhäuser date from the 15th and 16th centuries and were built in the Franconian half-timbered style. The residential and commercial buildings owe their name to the widow Moser, who ran a colonial goods shop there. The striking half-timbered buildings on the market square thus connect with a specific story from the town’s commercial past.

Monheim’s early church history dates back to around 870, when a first small church was built beside the Benedictine convent. Today, only the western wing of the cloister remains of the former convent. The present-day church of St. Walburga dates from around 1500 and incorporates the base of the former tower. Late Gothic details shape its architectural style, while the interior is Baroque. The Walburga Chapel contains a late Gothic net-rib vault dating from the 16th century.

Monheim’s later architectural history can also be read in its buildings. The present-day Peterskapelle was rebuilt in 1666/67 as a simple, rectangular structure; visits are possible by arrangement. On the upper floor of the listed town hall, the large council chamber, small meeting room and wedding room feature colorful stucco ceilings by the Wessobrunn School. Their motifs are drawn from the Old Testament. You can view the ceilings during office hours; check the current municipal hours in advance. The history of the former castle and court also includes the year 1523: with imperial approval, Count Palatine Ottheinrich of Palatinate-Neuburg moved the regional court from Graisbach to Monheim.

Explore the town’s history in different ways

The “Bayerisch-Schwaben-Lauschtour” smartphone app lets you explore Monheim’s history at your own pace with an audio guide. The 1.2-kilometer listening tour visits various historically significant places in Monheim. The Letter Trail uses information boards to share interesting facts about the town’s history. The Stadthupferl Tour explores Monheim as one of Bavarian Swabia’s small towns, with digital content, stories and various stops. These offer different ways to explore: an audio guide with a stated route length, information boards along the Letter Trail, and digital stories along the Stadthupferl Tour.

If you are also interested in hiking, the Monheimer Alb hiking guide, which describes all the routes, is available free of charge from the Tourist Information Office. Ask about current availability in advance. The Tourist Information Office also provides residents and visitors with tourist brochures, information on sights and event listings. Cycling, hiking and leisure maps cover the Monheimer Alb, the Ferienland DONAURIES, the Ries Geopark and the Altmühltal Nature Park. Monheim also has a Ries Geopark information point.

For pilgrims, Monheim marks the start of the final stage of the Pilgrims’ Way. The route passes through the Altmühltal Nature Park to monasteries, churches and places of worship. The town’s history, the audio tour and the start of this route stage therefore offer different focal points for planning your day.

Another look at the Donau-Ries travel destination

The wider Donau-Ries travel destination offers additional themes, distinct from Monheim’s half-timbered and church history. Donau-Ries District describes the Ries Geopark, with the Ries crater formed by a meteorite impact, as a tourist attraction. In Nördlingen, the medieval town wall is completely intact and fully accessible. The town museum there displays a collection more than 150 years old across four floors and illustrates the 1634 Battle of Nördlingen with a model made from around 6,000 tin figures. This gives you the option of choosing between different interests for your trip: the history of town architecture, regional geological history or a closer look at Nördlingen’s history.

Find accommodation to suit your plans

When looking for accommodation in Monheim, it helps to first decide what you want to focus on during your stay: would you like to explore the buildings and churches, take the audio tour, include hiking routes in the Monheimer Alb, or make the Pilgrims’ Way your main focus? Each of these plans offers a different emphasis. Monheim indoor swimming pool underwent a major renovation and expansion in 2017; its reopening as JURABAD Monheim is expected at the end of October 2026. JURABAD Monheim is then expected to be accessible to people with disabilities. During operation, visitors can be assisted by a special pool lift and support from the pool team when entering the 25-meter sports pool. Check the current operating status before your visit.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Mertingen, Tapfheim, Ehingen Am Ries, Harburg, Oettingen In Bayern, Rain, Donauwörth, Ries.

Back to the main travel overview: Donau-Ries.