Discover Hersbruck

Hersbruck combines a rich visible history with paths along the Pegnitz: Late Gothic altars, a walkable battlement and museums offer concrete destinations for culture lovers, while hiking and cycling routes cross the town. You can choose between historic buildings, exhibitions and outdoor activities, and plan each day differently.

Town history in churches, towers and gates

The Spitalkirche St. Elisabeth was built in the first half of the 15th century. Its Late Gothic Crucifixion Altar features carvings from the Veit Stoss School. The Stadtkirche St. Maria has an important Late Gothic shrine altar dating from around 1480. The two churches offer different highlights through their altars: St. Elisabeth has a Late Gothic Crucifixion Altar with carvings from the Veit Stoss School, while St. Maria has an important Late Gothic shrine altar dating from around 1480.

The Wall Walkway is part of the last town fortifications, dating from the 14th or 15th century. These include a covered, walkable battlement that is 5 to 6 metres high and about 1.5 metres thick. The Gänsturm, also known as the Schwalbenturm, tells another story of Hersbruck’s infrastructure: the round tower was built in the 15th century and collected spring water from 1537 to 1895. Wooden pipes carried the water to six fountains in the town centre.

The Wassertor was rebuilt in 1601/02 and stands by a bridge over a man-made arm of the Pegnitz. Hersbruck Castle was built before the year 1000 as a castle to protect the Pegnitz bridge. On Prager Straße, part of the “Golden Road” between Nuremberg and Prague, tall town houses with hop-drying floors and hoist projections stand together; the street was incorporated into the town fortifications in the 15th century. Together, these places reveal different aspects of the town’s history, from fortifications to water supply.

Museums and art in Hersbruck

The German Shepherds’ Museum in Hersbruck is Germany’s only museum devoted to shepherd culture. It is housed in a two-storey town house dating from 1524. Special exhibitions focus on shepherds, crafts, everyday culture and art; the building also houses local history collections and a crafts section. Interactive hands-on stations offer a playful way to experience how people and livestock live together. The museum’s collections and hands-on activities complement its exhibitions.

The Hersbruck Art Museum showcases contemporary art, painting, sculpture and object art. Visitors can also stroll through the sculpture garden of this small half-timbered house. The K5 Regional Art Forum Hersbruck offers another perspective on art from the area, with changing exhibitions by regional artists. If you want to plan a cultural visit to Hersbruck, you’ll find a range of focuses: shepherd culture and crafts, museum art, and changing regional perspectives.

Guided tours, traditions and outdoor activities

Guided tours of Hersbruck are offered year-round, taking visitors and residents on a journey through medieval Hersbruck. If you plan to take a tour, check the dates for your travel period. The Shepherds’ Day is a traditional festival that recalls the origins of shepherding in Hersbruck. The programme includes traditional music, “Patschen” (a traditional clapping performance), a small arts and crafts market, and a visit from the Three Holy Kings with their camels. If you want to plan your trip around the festival, check the event dates in advance.

There are also plenty of ways to spend time outdoors. Almost all of Hersbruck’s circular hiking routes start and finish at the two railway stations, so you can also set out by public transport. Other hiking trails cross Hersbruck and follow the Pegnitz or pass through its side valleys. The Five Rivers Cycle Route runs right through Hersbruck and connects the river valleys of the Pegnitz, Vils, Naab, Danube and Altmühl. Plan your day around a hike or a bike ride.

Hersbruck’s Strudelbad offers pools for swimmers and non-swimmers, a spacious sunbathing lawn, and play and sports facilities for the whole family. The Pegnitz flows between the pools and the sunbathing lawn. As the pool is open seasonally, check operating dates before your visit. When choosing accommodation, the kind of stay you’re looking for—combining history, culture and active days—can be a useful starting point. The Pendolino connects Hersbruck to Nuremberg in around 15 minutes; check the timetable for your travel dates.

In the wider destination of Nürnberger Land

The wider destination of Nürnberger Land also offers ideas for hiking and cycling: it has more than 3,000 kilometres of marked hiking trails and well-maintained cycle routes of varying difficulty. One example is the “Hohenstein (634 m) – SevenSummits” route in Kirchensittenbach. It is 10.1 kilometres long, with 406 metres of ascent and 397 metres of descent. Nürnberger Land is also part of the Franconian Switzerland–Franconian Jura Nature Park.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Engelthal, Pommelsbrunn, Fischbach, Schwaig Bei Nürnberg, Leinburg, Röthenbach An Der Pegnitz, Simmelsdorf, Velden.

Back to the overview of the wider destination: Nürnberger Land.