The best traffic-free bike rides around Nördlingen

Gasthaus Sonne

The Wasserschloss in Trochtelfingen hosts various events, and it's also worth a visit for a short stop in the beer garden with musical entertainment.

The formerly extensive, terraced complex on a rock above the town was first mentioned in 1188 in a treaty between Emperor Frederick I Barbarossa and King Alfonso VIII of Castile, in which the marriage between Frederick's son Conrad and Alfonso's daughter Berengaria was agreed upon. Half of the castle with all its appurtenances (mediam partem castri Walrstein cum omnibus suis pertinenciis), along with another 29 Staufian estates, were to be part of the bride's dowry.

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 "Daniel" church tower of St. George's Church in Nördlingen is the town's most visible landmark and a masterpiece of late Gothic architecture. At 90 meters high, the tower rises above the town's rooftops and offers a spectacular panoramic view of the Nördlinger Ries region – on a clear day, up to 99 church towers can be seen. Construction began in 1454 and was completed in 1490 with a temporary roof. After a lightning strike in 1537, the tower received its characteristic Italian dome. Originally known as the "Wendelstein," it was renamed "Daniel" in the 19th century – an allusion to the biblical figure Daniel, who was elevated to the rank of prince. The Daniel tower is particularly vividly brought to life by a centuries-old tradition: Every evening between 10 p.m. and midnight, the watchman calls out "So G'sell, so!" from the tower room. – a greeting that dates back to a legend from 1440 in which a runaway sow helped uncover a treason and save the city from an attack. Those who climb the more than 350 steps to the viewing platform will be rewarded not only with an impressive panorama but also with a sense of the history and soul of this unique city.

The market fountain at the Viehmarkt is a lovingly designed modern fountain located directly in front of the Alte Schranne (Old Market). It depicts two life-size farmers, each carrying a goose and a piglet in their arms—an image symbolizing the vibrant market culture and trade of bygone times.

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.