Nennslingen: Jura Architecture, Plateau and Anlaut Valley
Accommodation in Nennslingen
Nennslingen combines insights into the Jura region’s architectural history with a landscape that invites you to hike and cycle. Historic houses in the town tell stories of life and crafts in times gone by; in the municipality, a work of art commemorates Jura houses that have disappeared. There are also trails in the Anlaut Valley and on the Jura plateau, as well as a place to swim in summer at nearby Bechthaler Weiher. You can shape your stay around local history and outdoor activities.
Jura Houses and Traces of Local History
At the northern edge of the market square stands the Jura farmhouse, a residential building with an attached stable whose core dates back to the 16th century. Wooden joints from that period have been preserved in the roof structure. This gives the building a specific architectural feature as well as a long history: it is the core, not the entire house, that is dated to the 16th century. Anyone interested in historic architectural styles will find a vivid starting point here for exploring the area’s building culture.
There is also a house with a remarkably early history at Kellergasse 1. The older half of the semi-detached residential building with a smithy is believed to date from shortly before 1540. This cautious estimate refers to this older part of the building. Together with the Jura farmhouse, the house shows how the history of a place can be read in different ways through individual buildings.
The Evangelical Lutheran parish church of Beatae Mariae Virginis has a burial chapel of the Schenken von Geyern on its south side. It contains numerous epitaphs of this lower-ranking noble family. For those interested in cultural history, this site offers another way to explore the past alongside the houses: the burial chapel and memorials to a noble family take their place alongside residential and craft buildings.
A Work of Art Commemorates Lost Jura Houses
Das verlorene Dorf (The Lost Village), a work of art consisting of four closed houses made of matt-finished stainless steel at a scale of 1:8, is located in the municipality. It recreates demolished Jura houses from Biburg, Gersdorf, Wengen and Nennslingen. These houses shaped the townscape for centuries in some cases; the artwork is geographically central between the four districts. The miniature representation gives the memory of the vanished buildings its own artistic form. Anyone interested in architectural history can look beyond the houses that still stand to the memory of Jura houses that no longer exist.
Hiking, Cycling and Summer Swimming
The scenic Anlaut Valley and the Jura plateau near Nennslingen offer an extensive network of cycling and hiking trails. This puts two options for active days at the heart of your stay: you can explore the surroundings on foot or by bike. Maps of hiking and cycling routes in the surrounding area are available from the Tourist Information Office at Schmiedgasse 1. If you enjoy spending your holiday outdoors, the landscape and trail network offer a different focus from the historic buildings in town.
On warm summer days, there is also a place to swim at nearby Bechthaler Weiher, below the castle ruins. This adds an option by the water to the trails, so not every holiday day has to be the same. If you are looking for a holiday apartment in Nennslingen, you can start by considering whether architectural heritage, cycling and hiking tours, or summer swimming should be the main focus of your stay.
More Places to Visit and Local Pages
The playground on Ringstraße has a climbing frame, a seesaw, a swing, a spring rider and a carousel. This particular range of play equipment offers another way to add some activity to your day. In addition to maps, the Tourist Information Office has flyers and posters about current events, as well as further information.
Find more local pages for Burgsalach, Bergen, Gnotzheim, Pappenheim, Markt Berolzheim, Muhr Am See, Meinheim and Gunzenhausen.
For the broader travel overview: Weißenburg-Gunzenhausen.
