Herrieden: Explore the old town, festivals and trails

Herrieden offers plenty of reasons to explore: a walk through the old town draws attention to historic buildings, while festivals, public art and trails through meadows, open countryside and woodland offer different perspectives.

The old town and churches tell Herrieden’s story

Herrieden’s old town invites you to explore its historic buildings and sights on a walking tour. The Collegiate Church of St. Vitus and St. Deocar, now a collegiate basilica, shapes the townscape with its twin towers and imposing gabled roof. In 2010, the collegiate basilica received the honorary title of a papal basilica; it is the only papal basilica in Middle Franconia.

The Church of Our Lady also offers a special glimpse into the history of its architecture: it has a unique wooden stucco ceiling dating from 1705. The church was rebuilt in 1474, reconstructed in 1493 after the town fire of 1490, and extensively renovated from 1997 to 2000. These milestones connect different chapters in the history of the building.

The “Museum on the Way” presents Herrieden’s history at eight historically significant locations in the town center, with steles displaying information along the route. In the Bürgerpark at the Stadtschloss, seven sculptures explore the historical theme in a different way: here, town history can be experienced playfully as “art to touch.” Visitors may use and touch the sculptures. The Stadtschloss itself was the seat of the Lords of Herrieden in 1122.

On the market square, the Deocar Fountain depicts Deocar, the first abbot of Herrieden Monastery, seated beneath trees. A marking in the paving shows the course of the former collegiate wall. The Stork Tower is another defining feature: storks have nested on the tower for centuries. It was destroyed in 1316 and rebuilt in 1340.

Annual festivals and activities at the Parkbad

Herrieden’s Old Town Festival is held every year on the third weekend in July. The program includes music, performances by Herrieden clubs and associations, food, and activities for children. Herrieden’s Kirchweih fair takes place annually in mid-September and includes, among other things, a church service, parade, soccer tournament, children’s program and beer tent. Exact dates may vary from year to year; check them before your trip if you plan to visit around one of the festivals.

Herrieden’s heated Parkbad has a 25-meter pool, a diving tower, a giant slide, cascading showers and massage jets. Alongside the historic sights, a range of pools and water attractions is another option to add to your stay.

Trails, a garden and activities in the municipality

Herrieden and its surrounding area have trails and paths through meadows, open countryside and woodland, featured on a Herrieden hiking map. For a different view of cultivated nature, visit Hortus Felix on the northern edge of town. The 2,800-square-meter permaculture garden is divided into a buffer zone, a hot-spot zone and an intensive zone.

Day visitors can fish along about 9 km of the Altmühl, which the Wasserrose Herrieden Fishing Association leases. A valid fishing license is required. For another kind of outdoor experience, the Kneipp facility in Lattenbuch has a water basin for walking like a stork, an arm basin and loungers with a view; check locally before visiting to confirm that it is open.

Elbersroth, a village within the municipality of Herrieden, also has its own excursion destination. The “Around Elbersroth” hiking trail passes ten sites associated with the work of herbal priest Ludwig Heumann and shares insights into his life and ideas. Near Herrieden, the Wayside Shrines and Chapels hiking trail tells the stories of human lives and fates through memorials from past centuries. The two trails offer different perspectives: one on Heumann’s life and ideas, the other on the stories handed down through these memorials.

Getting your bearings and the regional perspective

Herrieden’s Tourist Information office is located beside the Herrieden Stork Tower, inside the DECIMA bookshop at Deocarplatz 10, 91567 Herrieden. The former “Bockerla-Bahn” is also part of the town’s history: the 22.7-kilometer railway line ran from Bechhofen via Herrieden to Leutershausen-Wiedersbach and operated from 1903 onward.

In the wider Ansbach travel destination, Frankenhöhe Nature Park offers a distinctive, expansive perspective on nature. Covering about 1,100 km², it lies within the districts of Ansbach and Neustadt a.d. Aisch–Bad Windsheim, as well as the independent city of Ansbach. The Altmühl, Fränkische Rezat and Zenn rivers rise in the nature park; information is also available about hiking and cycling trails and ranger tours.

Choose accommodation to suit the purpose of your trip

If you are visiting to focus on local history, prioritize the walking tour, churches and eight stele stops. For nature, you can distinguish Herrieden’s trails and Hortus Felix from the broader nature-park perspective in the wider Ansbach travel destination.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Rös, Dürrwangen, Rothenburg Ob Der Tauber, Triesdorf, Petersaurach, Wolframs-Eschenbach, Feuchtwangen, Wettringen.

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