Werbach: Discover Hiking and Culture

Churches, a Castle and Remarkable Architectural History

Werbach’s St. Martin’s parish church is dedicated to St. Martin and was built between 1841 and 1843 to plans by architect August Mosbrugger. The organ has its own more recent history: the Vleugels organ workshop in Hardheim built it in 1978. The church and its instrument offer two different historical points of interest for a visit to the village.

Gamburg Castle is located in Gamburg, a village in the municipality of Werbach. Its originally Romanesque hall building contains secular wall paintings dating from before 1219, described as the oldest north of the Alps. The castle park is a Baroque park adorned with statues and botanical rarities. The Barons of Dalberg originally laid it out in the 17th century; it is considered an exceptional cultural monument. Guided tours of the castle are offered on weekends and public holidays during the season, as well as by arrangement. Check the dates before your visit. Several weekends a year also feature painting and drawing courses for beginners and advanced participants; check the current dates for these, too.

Regular birds of prey flight displays take place in the castle’s outer courtyard. As current schedules cannot be assumed, it is advisable to check the times before travelling. The combination of a castle visit, park and scheduled activities makes Gamburg a destination in its own right within the municipality.

Wenkheim is home to the former synagogue. It has an original, well-preserved coffered stucco ceiling and a women’s gallery with a lattice screen. The mikveh was used by Jewish men and women for ritual cleansing. The annual programme includes readings, films, concerts and themed evenings; individual events can provide an additional reason to plan when to visit. Visiting hours are listed as Saturdays and Sundays from May to October, 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. Guided tours can be arranged by telephone. Check the seasonal opening times before your visit.

Niklashausen also brings together different aspects of local history. In the local history museum in the old town hall, the “Pfeiferstube” documents the life and work of Hans Böhm; museum tours can be arranged by appointment. The Late Gothic church is a listed monument. Its foundation stone was laid in 1519, and the sacristy contains a star vault. Niklashausen also has a wood-carved Baroque pulpit and a memorial plaque to Pfeiferhannes. Tours of the museum and church can be arranged by appointment.

Hiking Trails and Outdoor Destinations

The circular hiking trail in Werbach starts at the market square and follows trail markers showing a blue 1 on a white background. At the edge of the village, it passes a volleyball court and a Kneipp water-treading facility; it then returns to the market square via the main road. Other landmarks on the described route include Liebfrauenbrunnstraße and Blauer Rain street, along which the trail leaves Werbach in the direction of the nature reserves. Check the trail markers on site.

The municipality of Werbach also has a well-developed, signposted network of hiking and cycling trails. The Niklashausen History and Culture Association maintains the Pfeiferweg trail and a section of the European Cultural Route there. Both routes combine culture and landscape. This makes it possible to explore local history and trails through the surrounding area as separate points of interest, without conflating them with the circular trail starting at the market square.

About 2.5 kilometres outside Werbach, in the Welzbach valley towards Werbachhausen, lies the Liebfrauenbrunn pilgrimage chapel. A spring is located beneath the chapel. The Tauber near Werbach is described as a fishing area for recreational anglers; check local permits before fishing.

Plan Your Stay

When looking for a holiday apartment, it helps to decide first what you want to focus on during your stay: is the circular trail starting at the market square important, or are the castle, church, museum and former synagogue your main interests? Werbach, Gamburg, Wenkheim and Niklashausen offer different points of interest. If you are planning a guided tour, course or event, confirm the relevant dates in advance.

Discover More Destinations

Niederstetten, Grünsfeld, Assamstadt, Tauberbischofsheim, Großrinderfeld, Wertheim, Weikersheim, Reicholzheim

For the wider travel overview: Main-Tauber District.