Ansbach: Literary Trails, Nature and Culture

Nature park and trails for your own discoveries

The Frankenhöhe Nature Park covers about 1,100 km². It lies within the districts of Ansbach and Neustadt a.d. Aisch–Bad Windsheim, as well as the independent city of Ansbach, and is particularly well suited to recreation thanks to its landscape. The park is also the source of the Altmühl, Fränkische Rezat and Zenn rivers. Information about hiking and cycling trails, as well as ranger-led tours, offers ideas for exploring nature in different ways.

On the Hesselberg, a trail leads to the mountain’s most scenic spots and provides information about nature, history and geology. Guided hikes on various themes are also offered there. Groups can book tailor-made tours, including specially designed activities for children’s groups, birthday parties, school classes and holiday programmes. If you are planning a trip focused on outdoor activities and nature, you will find both a trail for independent exploration and guided options on specific themes.

Literature, history and unique collections

The Franconian Literary Trail in Wolframs-Eschenbach is a 2.2 km-long, accessible circular trail around the town’s fortifications. Fifteen information boards feature authors from the Middle Ages to the present day whose works deal with Franconia. Combining a circular trail with literary stops makes this a distinctive way to explore: you can discover regional literature while also walking around the town’s fortifications.

In Neuendettelsau, the Löhe and History Trail takes you on a journey back to the 19th century, when Pastor Wilhelm Löhe worked there. The trail leads to various stops in Neuendettelsau and to the churches in Reuth and Wernsbach; each stop has an information board. The Löhe and History Trail also offers the opportunity to visit the Löhe Era Museum and the Mission Eine Welt World Exhibition.

Other museums have their own distinctive focus. The wiegen & messen Museum in Königshofen displays more than 4,000 exhibits, including historical scales and weights, measuring rods, folding rulers and vessels used to measure grain. In Bechhofen a.d. Heide, the permanent exhibition at the German Brush and Paintbrush Museum is devoted to household implements and specialist brushes and paintbrushes used in crafts and industry. The LIMESEUM in Wittelshofen is the central museum for the UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Limes in the district of Ansbach.

Feuchtwangen also combines history with a distinctive performance venue. The Romanesque cloister is an important testament to the town’s early monastic history and was built as part of the Salvator Monastery, whose structural core has been documented since the 12th century. Since 1949, the cloister has served as the venue for the Feuchtwangen Cloister Plays; its Romanesque arcades form an open-air theatre space.

Water activities and a break at the Krummweiher

At the Wörnitz River Bath, you can swim in a lagoon-like shallow-water area filled with filtered water from the Wörnitz. The facility includes a water slide, a children’s mud-play area, a playground and a volleyball court. If you are travelling with children, you can take these specific facilities into account when choosing your destinations. The Wörnitz River Bath is located right by the Wörnitz, on the road connecting Wassertrüdingen and Reichenbach.

The Krummweiher is southeast of Königshofen a.d. Heide. From the Dorfstraße bus stop, it is about a 15–20-minute walk. A kiosk by the pond serves snacks, drinks, coffee and cake. This makes it easy to combine a visit to the water with a break; the stated walking time is for the route from the Dorfstraße bus stop to the Krummweiher.

Choose the right focus for your holiday apartment

When looking for a holiday apartment or holiday home, it helps to first decide which experiences matter most to your trip. Wolframs-Eschenbach is a specific point of interest for literature and town fortifications, while Neuendettelsau is the place to start for the Löhe and History Trail. The Hesselberg is a good choice for nature and geology, while museums and the cloister offer further cultural highlights. Choose your location based on the destinations you actually want to visit, rather than treating these different experiences as one single day-trip area.

Discover more places

For your further search: Arberg, Dinkelsbühl, Geslau, Gerolfingen, Flachslanden, Burk, Merkendorf, Adelshofen, Leutershausen, Ansbach, Feuchtwangen, Burgoberbach, Ehingen, Gebsattel, Wassertrüdingen, Wolframs-Eschenbach, Weihenzell, Triesdorf, Wilburgstetten, Wittelshofen, Windsbach, Wörnitz, Wettringen, Röckingen, Petersaurach, Mönchsroth, Sachsen bei Ansbach, Ornbau, Unterschwaningen, Weidenbach, Langfurth, Colmberg, Dürrwangen, Schnelldorf, Lichtenau, Rothenburg ob der Tauber, Oberdachstetten, Bechhofen, Schillingsfürst, Neuendettelsau, Lehrberg, Herrieden, Heilsbronn, Dietenhofen, Insingen, Buch am Wald, Aurach and Hesselberg.

For the broader travel overview: Bavaria.