Discover Lorch: Monastery, Hohenstaufen history and hiking trails

In Lorch, Hohenstaufen history and outdoor exploration go hand in hand. The monastery provides a historical focal point; hiking trails, a walking tour through the town and various guided tours offer other ways to experience the place. This helps you decide which experiences to prioritize when planning your trip.

Hohenstaufen History and the Monastery Complex

Lorch Monastery was founded around 1100 as the Hohenstaufen dynasty’s house monastery and is a burial place for members of the ruling family. The Hohenstaufen tomb monument, dating from 1475, is located in the monastery church. Another landmark in the town’s history is the collegiate church, now the Protestant town church: it was the first known burial place of the Hohenstaufen dynasty. These places offer several historical points of reference for a visit, extending beyond a single building.

The permanent exhibition at the monastery covers both the history of the complex and Benedictine monastic life. It also features the Hohenstaufen Panorama, measuring 30 by 4.50 metres. The Baroque Prelate’s Room can be visited as part of a guided tour. If architecture and history are your main interests during your stay, these topics connect the exhibition with the monastery’s rooms and objects.

The outdoor areas also contribute to the experience: the monastery garden is enclosed by a completely preserved circular rampart. The Sensory Garden lies next to the monastery church and is especially highlighted during the warmer months. From Marsilius Tower, you can look out over the monastery complex and its surroundings. These three perspectives—the garden, the historic complex and the view—offer different points of interest, without requiring you to focus on just one.

Hiking Trails, Town Walk and Schelmenklinge Gorge

The town presents eight hiking routes around Lorch, Waldhausen, Weitmars, Kirneck and Rattenharz. One is the Limes Hiking Trail (HW 6), which passes through Lorch and follows the remains of a Roman frontier fortification dating back around 1,800 years. A section in Lorch starts at the reconstructed Roman watchtower above Lorch Monastery at the Limes bend. This lets you connect hiking with a specific historical point of interest, while the other routes take in different starting points and locations.

Schelmenklinge offers a different landscape: a narrow, wooded gorge. Seasonal water features are installed there from May to October; check whether they are scheduled during your planned visit. If you would rather explore the town’s history stop by stop than visit a gorge, you can include the Historical Town Walk, which has 34 stops. The options have distinct characters: a path through a wooded gorge on the one hand, and a history-focused walk on the other.

Guided Tours, Flight Show and Getting There

Lorch offers guided historical town tours, tours of Lorch Monastery, literary walks and light-hearted tours. The options range from local and monastic history to literary and entertaining formats. The Staufer Falconry near Lorch Monastery also offers a flight show featuring birds of prey. Since the programme should be checked before your visit, include this show in your plans only after checking the current schedule.

Cycling routes associated with Lorch Monastery include the Hohenstaufen Route and the King Philip of Swabia Tour. The Stuttgart–Schwäbisch Gmünd rail connection is also relevant for getting to the monastery: from Lorch station, it is a ten-minute walk. Check the timetable before travelling. If you are comparing accommodation in Lorch, you can factor the rail connection and the experiences that interest you into your plans; check the distances between your accommodation and individual destinations based on the accommodation you choose.

Discover More Destinations

Discover more destinations: Westhausen, Stödtlen, Böbingen An Der Rems, Mutlangen, Leinzell, Schwäbisch Gmünd, Jagstzell, Rainau.

Return to the regional travel overview: Ostalbkreis.