Schwäbisch Hall: Theater, Art and Old Town

Schwäbisch Hall offers several distinct focal points for a stay: theater on a historic outdoor staircase, art and local history in museums, and trails into the surrounding area. This can help you plan if you are weighing cultural events against outdoor activities. The market square and St. Michael’s Church provide a historic landmark, while the museums and theater add their own highlights.

Theater on the Great Staircase and at the New Globe

St. Michael’s Church rises above the market square. Its famous outdoor staircase is 70 meters wide and has 53 steps; the church was consecrated as a Romanesque basilica on February 10, 1156. The staircase also serves as a stage: since 1925, the Schwäbisch Hall Open-Air Theatre Festival has been known for exceptional open-air theater in Germany. Every summer, plays, musicals and classics of world literature are performed on the historic Great Staircase in front of St. Michael’s. The New Globe has complemented the program since 2019 with year-round performances and a varied lineup. The two theater venues therefore differ mainly in their performance schedules: summer shows on the staircase and a year-round program at the New Globe. If theater is the deciding factor for your trip, you can take the relevant season into account when planning your dates.

Museums spanning local history and art

The museums also offer distinct perspectives. The Hällisch-Fränkisches Museum is located in the medieval town center, covers more than 3,000 square meters and extends across seven historic buildings. It presents the history, art and culture of the Free Imperial City and its surroundings. Exhibits of significance beyond the region include the synagogue paneling from Unterlimpurg and Steinbach, painted by Elieser Sussmann in 1738/39, and ivory figures by Leonard Kern from the Thirty Years’ War. Here, local history meets individual works of art of particular significance.

The privately run Kunsthalle Würth, supported by Adolf Würth GmbH & Co. KG, was built on the site of the former Löwenbrauerei brewery in the old town and has offered a varied program there since 2001. The Johanniterkirche offers a different historic setting: this extensively renovated church dates from the 12th century and reopened in 2008 as a museum of late medieval and modern art. It houses the Würth Collection’s “Old Masters” and Hans Holbein the Younger’s Madonna of the Protective Cloak. When planning, you can therefore take different interests into account: the history of the Free Imperial City, works in the Kunsthalle or art in the Johanniterkirche.

Market square and guided tour

The historic market square brings together numerous architectural styles and is considered a gem in the heart of the city, as well as one of the most beautiful market squares in southern Germany. A public city tour leads through narrow lanes, across the Unterwöhrd island in the Kocher River and to Haalplatz, introducing visitors to 2,500 years of history. Check tour dates and prices in advance for your preferred date, as both may change.

Circular hiking trails, singletrack trails and Einkorn

Five of the six signposted circular hiking trails lead directly from the city center into the scenic surrounding area. They are suitable for family outings, school groups and hiking groups. Trails of Hall e. V. has created singletrack trails for experienced mountain bikers; the return routes to the trail entrances are signposted. Another scenic landmark is Einkorn, on the edge of the Hessental district: the panoramic view from Schwäbisch Hall’s local mountain stretches across the Hohenlohe region. These options cater to different interests: group outings on circular hiking trails, singletrack trails for experienced mountain bikers or the view from Einkorn.

Discover more destinations: Bühlertann, Kreßberg, Oberrot, Kirchberg An Der Jagst, Vellberg, Blaufelden, Crailsheim, Rosengarten.

Go to the main travel overview: Schwäbisch Hall.