Easy hikes and walks around Nördlingen

Looking west, the Ipf is unmistakable.

Here stands a monument in honor of Friedrich Joas. In 1902, he donated a generous plot of land for the expansion of Marienhöhe Park. The monument was erected in 1904. A bench invites visitors to take a short break. The view extends over Nördlingen, but is somewhat obstructed by newer buildings and utility poles.

The Baldinger Tor in Nördlingen is one of the five historical city gates and was first mentioned in 1376. It secured the road towards Würzburg and Frankfurt am Main and was part of the medieval city fortifications. The barbican was completed in 1406 by Master Wenzeslaus, and in 1430 a reconstruction took place under the direction of stonemason Conrad Stenglin. Originally, the gate structure resembled the Berger Tor: a rectangular main gate building with an almost square barbican. The tower was five stories high and had a round superstructure with a gun embrasure and a tent roof. During the Thirty Years' War, the gate was damaged, and in 1703 the tower unexpectedly collapsed – presumably due to insufficient repairs. Five people lost their lives.

The Klösterle in Nördlingen is the former Franciscan monastery, founded around 1233. Originally dedicated to Saint Nicholas, and later to the Virgin Mary, it was an important center of religious life in the town. During the Reformation, the monastery was dissolved in 1536, and the town acquired the building for 50 guilders as a retirement provision for the last three monks. In the following centuries, the Klösterle underwent several repurposings: between 1584 and 1587, it was converted into a granary, and later served as a fire station and storage facility. Today, the building houses the Nördlingen Town Hall with a theater stage and a hotel.

The Berger Gate in Nördlingen is one of the five remaining city gates and once secured the road toward Ulm. It was built between 1435 and 1436 by the master builder Hans Rews. The upper tower floors were later expanded between 1574 and 1575 by Wolfgang and Caspar Waldberger, giving the gate its present appearance. Particularly noteworthy is the coffered barrel vault of the gate passage – an architectural detail that gives the gate its distinctive character. A cannonball from the Thirty Years' War remains embedded in the masonry, commemorating the siege of Nördlingen in 1634.

The Old Bastion was originally built in the 15th century as a mighty bulwark to reinforce the city walls. The city was particularly vulnerable at this point due to the rising terrain of the Galgenberg (Gallows Hill). The current structure dates from 1554, erected by Caspar Walberger, and was expanded in 1598 by Wolfgang Walberger. The bastion could accommodate up to ten cannons and was a central part of the defense system. Since the 1930s, the bastion has served as an open-air stage, operated by the Alt Nördlingen Association. Every summer, theater performances are held here, attracting visitors from all over the region.

The Reimlinger Gate is Nördlingen's oldest surviving city gate, dating back to the 14th century. It once secured the important trade route toward Donauwörth and Augsburg. The square tower was built around 1376 and later rebuilt several times – the current tent roof dates from 1603. Despite some alterations, the gate, with its bridgework and moat walls, has been largely preserved in its original form and is an impressive testament to the city's medieval defenses.

The Deininger Gate is one of Nördlingen's historic city gates and a striking example of late medieval defensive architecture. It once served as an architectural model for the neighboring Löpsinger Gate and is notable for its slender construction and curved roof. Unlike the city's other gate towers, the Deininger Gate lacked a gun platform, making it particularly vulnerable to enemy attacks. A memorial plaque commemorates the dramatic events of 1634, when imperial soldiers entered the tower during the Battle of Nördlingen. The defenders were only able to expel them by setting fire to the tower itself. The current structure, with its twelve round-arched windows, dates from the final years of the Thirty Years' War, around 1645/1646. The gate is an impressive testament to Nördlingen's eventful history and a popular stop on the historical city tour.