Schorndorf: Half-timbered Houses, Museums and Hiking Trails

Half-Timbered Houses, Fortress History and Art

The entire historic old town, with its picturesque half-timbered houses and market square ensemble, is protected as a historic site. Schorndorf is also part of the German Half-Timbered House Road. Those who enjoy wandering through historic townscapes will find this a clear highlight of their stay. At the Burgschloss, built in 1538 as part of the Württemberg state fortress on the site of a presumably older moated castle, you can discover another chapter in the town’s history. Remains of the former bastion have been preserved in the castle park.

Art is also part of the townscape: more than 40 sculptures, mostly by contemporary artists, can be found in public spaces. The Q Galerie für Kunst Schorndorf presents six exhibitions each year and is an important hub for contemporary art in the greater Stuttgart area. You can also plan to join one of the town’s open guided tours. They are for individuals and small groups, and the topics change weekly.

Museums for Town History and Exploring Together

The Schorndorf Town Museum is housed in two historic half-timbered buildings and has more than 900 square metres of exhibition space. Its collection includes archaeological finds, objects from the modern era, and materials on regional everyday life and cultural history. The exhibition on the history of settlement spans the Stone Age, Roman finds and the Middle Ages. This lets you explore several different periods during a single museum visit.

For families, the hands-on exhibition “Mammoth, Romans, Celts & Co.” offers a special point of interest. The research trail at the Forscherfabrik Schorndorf is also designed for children and adults: numerous interactive stations open up fascinating worlds of discovery. Those interested in Gottlieb Daimler can visit his birthplace. Daimler-Benz acquired and restored it in 1979; today it serves as a museum and conference venue for Daimler AG. Exhibits include Daimler’s journeyman’s piece, animal drawings and personal belongings.

There is a convenient public transport connection from Stuttgart to the Town Museum: you can reach it by S-Bahn line S2 or regional express train. It is a five-minute walk from the station. This may be useful when planning a museum visit by public transport.

Hiking Trails, Vineyards and Views

The Jubiläumsweg connects the nine districts of the large district town with the town centre. It is about 45 kilometres long in total and leads across scenic heights, through the Rems Valley’s orchards and along the mostly wooded slopes of the Schurwald and Berglen hills. The first stage passes through downtown Schorndorf and Schornbach and is about 14 kilometres long. The second stage runs through Schornbach, Buhlbronn, Miedelsbach and Haubersbronn and measures about 20.5 kilometres. The distances and stage details can help you tailor your hiking plans to your preferred route length.

Another option is the “SD4 – Himmelsweg” circular hiking trail. It passes through meadows and forests, goes by Wellingtonia trees and climbs to the Grafenberg viewpoint. Grafenberg lies amid vineyards and cherry orchards; from there, the view stretches across Schorndorf and the surrounding area. If you would like to combine the scenery with local specialities, you could consider a wine hike with a wine tasting or a glass of sparkling wine.

A Green Space in the Heart of the Town

The Old Cemetery has been preserved as a park with an exceptional collection of trees and is freely accessible around the clock. The grounds are home to a small chapel in the Neo-Gothic half-timbered style, designed by Gottlieb Maier in 1879. Since 1989, a memorial by artist Reinhard Scherer has also commemorated those persecuted and killed by fascism. The park thus brings nature, architecture and remembrance together in one place.

When choosing your holiday apartment, you might first consider whether you would like to focus your stay more on the old town, museums and art, or on hikes and scenic views. In Schorndorf, these interests can be combined with a wide range of different experiences. Other nearby places to consider include Korb, Urbach, Sulzbach, Weissach Im Tal, Oppenweiler, Alfdorf, Aspach and Großerlach.

For the broader travel overview: Rems-Murr District.