Discover Schwäbisch Hall: Theatre, Old Town and Hiking Trails

Schwäbisch Hall brings together a historic market square and an unusual theatre stage: in summer, the steps of the open staircase in front of St. Michael become a performance venue. Museums in historic buildings showcase the city’s art and history, while signposted trails offer more ways to enjoy active days.

Church, Market Square and Theatre

Rising above the market square, St. Michael’s Church is known for its famous open staircase: it is 70 metres wide and has 53 steps. The church was consecrated as a Romanesque basilica on 10 February 1156. The historic market square itself also shapes the cityscape with its blend of numerous architectural styles and is considered one of the most beautiful market squares in southern Germany.

Every summer, the Great Staircase in front of St. Michael becomes a stage for the Schwäbisch Hall Open-Air Theatre. Since 1925, it has been known for exceptional open-air theatre in Germany; the programme features plays, musicals and classics of world literature. If you would like to combine your trip with a performance, check the current dates when planning.

Another theatre option is the Neues Globe: since 2019, it has complemented the Open-Air Theatre’s programme with year-round performances and a wide variety of productions. This distinction is useful when planning your trip: the Great Staircase is a summer stage, while the Neues Globe offers theatre at different times of the year.

Art and History in Historic Buildings

In the medieval town centre, the Hällisch-Fränkisches Museum spans seven historic buildings and more than 3,000 square metres. It presents the history, art and culture of the imperial city and its surroundings. Exhibits of significance beyond the region include the synagogue panelling from Unterlimpurg and Steinbach, painted by Elieser Sussmann in 1738/39, as well as ivory figures by Leonard Kern dating from the Thirty Years’ War.

The Kunsthalle Würth and the Johanniterkirche also offer different ways to experience art. The private Kunsthalle, supported by Adolf Würth GmbH & Co. KG, was built on the site of the former Löwenbrauerei in the Old Town and has offered a varied programme there since 2001. The Johanniterkirche is a comprehensively renovated 12th-century church. It reopened in 2008 as a museum for late medieval and modern art; it houses the “Old Masters” from the Würth Collection as well as the Madonna of the Protective Cloak by Hans Holbein the Younger.

If you would like to learn more about the city’s history, you can join a public guided tour of the historic Old Town. It leads through narrow lanes, across the Kocherinsel Unterwöhrd and to Haalplatz, bringing 2,500 years of history to life. Dates and prices may change; check them before planning your visit.

Circular Hiking Trails, Views and Cycling Tours

Five of the six signposted circular hiking trails lead directly from the city centre into the surrounding area. They are suitable for family outings, school groups and hiking groups. Einkorn offers a different view of the landscape: Schwäbisch Hall’s local mountain lies on the edge of the Hessental district and provides panoramic views across the Hohenlohe region.

For experienced mountain bikers, Trails of Hall e. V. has created singletrack trails, with signposted return routes to the trail entrances. There are several ways to plan cycling tours, too: the Kocher-Jagst Cycle Path passes through Schwäbisch Hall, while three day trips by bike start and finish right in the city centre. This lets you choose between a route that passes through the town and tours that start and end in the centre.

If a particular performance date is what determines your plans, check the current dates before scheduling your stay around it.

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