Herrenberg: Collegiate Church, Half-Timbered Houses and Culture

Herrenberg brings together architectural history, art and routes that reveal different sides of the city. The collegiate church, the Bell Museum, the half-timbered houses of the old town and the Jerg Ratgeb Sculpture Trail offer specific points of interest for culture enthusiasts planning a trip. If you are looking for a hotel in Herrenberg, consider whether you would like to focus your stay more on church art, old-town architecture or cultural events. You can trace the city’s architectural history at the collegiate church, while routes through the old town and up to Schlossberg place art and architecture in the context of the urban landscape.

Collegiate Church and Bell Museum

Herrenberg Collegiate Church was built in two phases: from 1276 to 1293 and from 1471 to 1493. In the later phase, it was completed as the first Gothic hall church in Württemberg. The two periods show that its architectural history consists of clearly separate stages. Its features include choir stalls created by Heinrich Schickhardt in 1517; the collegiate church also has the oldest rose window in Swabia. The church building, a dated work of art and an architectural detail offer different ways to explore Herrenberg’s cultural heritage.

Herrenberg Bell Museum is also located inside the collegiate church. The collection includes bells from nine centuries. The large bell chamber houses more than 30 bells that can be rung, as well as a 50-bell carillon. The collection spans a long period of time; the number of bells and the carillon offer further specific facets of this bell-related theme.

Old-Town Routes and Schlossberg

The half-timbered house trail in Herrenberg’s old town has 24 stops with information about the history and construction of the houses. The stops address two questions: How have the houses developed over time, and how should their construction be understood? The route thus draws attention to half-timbered buildings and the history of the houses in the old town.

The Jerg Ratgeb Sculpture Trail runs from the railway station through Herrenberg’s historic old town, past the collegiate church and up to Schlossberg. There are 25 works along the way to the Schlossberg observation tower. The tower stands on the stump of the former Powder Tower; from there, the view extends to the Swabian Alb. The routes have different focuses: the half-timbered house trail explores the history and construction of the houses, while the Jerg Ratgeb Trail connects sculptures with a route to Schlossberg.

Art, Concerts and Festivals

The Herrenberg City Gallery presents contemporary art in the forms of painting, graphic art, photography and sculpture. Classical concerts feature in the programmes of the music school and church musicians in Herrenberg. The “Sommerfarben” cultural festival takes place every year in early July and involves numerous cultural organizations in the city; specific programme items and dates may vary. The “Jazzin‘ Herrenberg” jazz festival takes place in spring. The “Feschtiiwaal” rock and pop festival takes place in summer and is aimed primarily at younger audiences. If a concert or festival is a deciding factor in your trip, check the specific event dates against your travel dates.

Discover more destinations: Kuppingen, Steinenbronn, Ehningen, Mötzingen, Jettingen, Deckenpfronn, Gäufelden, Weissach

For the overview of the wider area: Böblingen.