Lorch – Monastery, Hohenstaufen history and hiking trails

When planning a stay in Lorch, you can choose from several main interests: the monastery and Hohenstaufen history, a historical walking tour, trails through the countryside, and seasonal nature experiences. If you are looking for a hotel in Lorch, you can start by asking which of these aspects of the town you would like your stay to focus on.

Lorch Monastery and Hohenstaufen History

Lorch Monastery was founded around 1100 as the Hohenstaufen family monastery and is a burial place for members of the ruling dynasty. The collegiate church, now the Protestant Town Church, is also connected with this history: it is considered the first known burial place of the Hohenstaufen dynasty. The monastery church houses the Hohenstaufen Tomb, dated to 1475.

The permanent exhibition at the monastery covers both the complex’s architectural history and Benedictine monastic life. This offers two distinct perspectives: the development of the buildings and the daily life of the order. The Hohenstaufen panorama at Lorch Monastery measures 30 by 4.50 metres. The Baroque Prelate’s Room can be visited as part of guided tours.

There are several places to visit outdoors as well. The monastery garden is surrounded by a completely preserved circular wall. The sensory garden next to the monastery church adds a special touch, especially during the warmer months. Marsilius Tower offers views over the monastery complex and its surroundings.

The Hohenstaufen Falconry at the monastery features a flight display with birds of prey. Check before your visit whether the programme is running. This lets you distinguish this activity from the historical visits and plan for it separately.

Town Walks, Hiking and Nature

The Historical Town Walk in Lorch includes 34 stops. Guided town tours are also available for a historical exploration; the programme also includes monastery tours, literary walks and humorous tours. This gives you the choice of exploring the town on your own or joining tours with different thematic focuses.

The town presents eight hikes around Lorch, Waldhausen, Weitmars, Kirneck and Rattenharz. Another option is the Limes Hiking Trail (HW 6), which passes through Lorch and follows the remains of a Roman frontier fortification dating back around 1,800 years. A section in Lorch starts at a reconstructed Roman watchtower above Lorch Monastery, at the Limes bend. These details help distinguish hikes connected with Roman history from the other trails presented.

The Schelmenklinge is a natural attraction in its own right: a narrow, wooded gorge. Seasonal water features are installed there from May to October. Check before your visit whether they are on display. This keeps the seasonal nature of the attraction in mind without reducing the gorge to this feature alone.

Cycling routes are also connected with Lorch Monastery, including the Hohenstaufen Route and the Tour of King Philip of Swabia. These cycling routes complement the hiking options and offer another way to give your stay a particular focus.

Getting There and Choosing a Focus for Your Stay

Lorch Monastery can be reached via the Stuttgart–Schwäbisch Gmünd railway line. From Lorch station, it is a ten-minute walk to the monastery. Check train times before travelling. This makes it easy to include the connection in your plans for a monastery visit.

If you plan to see the seasonal water features or the falconry display, check their programme or availability before your visit.

Discover more destinations: Stödtlen, Jagstzell, Heuchlingen, Adelmannsfelden, Unterschneidheim, Täferrot, Lauchheim, Neuler.

For the regional travel overview: Ostalbkreis.