The best traffic-free bike rides around Unterschneidheim

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 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 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.

The Old Bastion, once part of the medieval city fortifications, was built in the 15th century to protect the city at a particularly vulnerable point—the rising terrain of the Galgenberg. The bastion was heavily fortified and could accommodate up to ten cannons.

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