Herzogenaurach Between City History and Forest
Accommodation in Herzogenaurach
Herzogenaurach combines the history of an old town with a distinctive industrial history and a large forest area to the west. At the City Museum, the tools of cloth makers sit alongside original shoes from the sportswear companies adidas and Puma. Outside, a walk through the medieval old town and various options in Dohnwald offer very different experiences. You can tailor your stay to suit whether you are most interested in local history, outdoor activities or the local market scene.
City History Across Three Floors
The City Museum’s permanent exhibition spans three floors and offers insights into Herzogenaurach’s political, economic and civic history, as well as the town’s 1,000-year past. A particular focus is industrial development: Herzogenaurach is presented as a sports-shoe capital and a centre of the ball-bearing industry. The tools used by cloth makers and the original shoes on display bring these different aspects of the town’s history to life without reducing it to a single subject.
The Pfründnerspital is also one of the topics explored on a tour of the City Museum. Visitors can learn more about the 500-year-old building and its former residents. This late-medieval half-timbered building is a heritage site of national significance. Those interested in architectural history and life in the town in the past will find a different perspective here from the exhibition on industrial development.
For a sense of the old town, there is also the inner town walking tour. It takes you through the medieval old town and lasts about half an hour. Its approximate duration makes it an easy way to add a walk through the historic town centre to your stay. The museum and walking tour offer different focuses: the museum centres on history and objects, while the tour takes you through the old town.
Forest Trails and Activities in Dohnwald
Dohnwald is a forest area of around 184 hectares to the west of Herzogenaurach. If you are looking for a change from the town’s historical attractions during your visit, you can discover a range of activities and places to spend time in the forest. These include a fitness track with various exercise machines to try out and a Nordic walking track. A trail around Dohnwald passes mills and carp ponds, offering another way to take in the surroundings of the forest.
The WaldWissenWeg is suitable for prams and wheelchairs along some sections. This limitation is important to bear in mind when planning: accessibility does not apply to the entire trail. The WaldWissenWeg can be reached within a few minutes’ walk from two car parks. If you are travelling with a pram or using a wheelchair, you can take this information into account alongside your personal requirements for the outing.
So choose the focus that best suits your plans for your stay – for example, exercising on fitness equipment, Nordic walking or a trail with views of mills and carp ponds.
Summer Events and Weekly Market
Herzogenaurach’s summer programme includes the popular Altstadtfest and the Sommerkirchweih. Both events add their own distinctive character to the summer programme. When planning your trip, it is worth considering the events you would like to attend as one possible focus alongside a museum visit, a walk through the old town and time in Dohnwald.
The weekly market is also part of the local offering: it takes place on Wednesdays and Saturdays. Fresh local and regional products are available there, including fruit and vegetables, Afro-Caribbean snacks and home-brewed beer. The selection ranges from fresh produce to distinctive snacks and drinks. If you enjoy including market visits in your holiday, the two market days offer a useful reference point for planning your stay.
Discover More Places
For more places to discover, you can also visit Hemhofen, Heroldsberg, Wachenroth, Uttenreuth, Adelsdorf, Weisendorf, Heßdorf and Bubenreuth.
For the broader travel overview: Erlangen-Höchstadt.
