Monheim: Half-timbered Houses, City Gates and History

Monheim’s townscape is shaped by the gates and towers of the town wall, as well as the half-timbered façades of the Moser Houses on the market square. It also features traces of early monastic history, church architecture from various centuries, and routes that let you explore the town’s history from different perspectives.

Half-timbered Houses, Gates and Architectural History

The Moser Houses adjoin the Upper Gate, also known as the Donauwörth Gate. Built around 1350, the gate and the Moser Houses are considered landmarks of Monheim. The Moser Houses are residential and commercial buildings dating from the 15th and 16th centuries, built in the Franconian half-timbered style. They take their name from the widow Moser, who ran a colonial goods shop there.

Monheim’s early history dates back to around 870, when a Benedictine convent was founded and the first small church was built beside it. Today, only the western wing of the cloister remains of the former convent. The present church of St. Walburga dates from around 1500 and incorporates the base of the former tower. Its architectural style bears traces of the Late Gothic period, while the interior is Baroque. The Walburga Chapel inside the church features a Late Gothic net vault dating from the 16th century.

The listed town hall also preserves distinctive details: on the upper floor, the large council chamber, small meeting room and wedding room have colourful stucco ceilings by the Wessobrunn School, decorated with Old Testament motifs. They can be viewed during office hours; check the current municipal opening times before your visit. The present-day St. Peter’s Chapel was rebuilt in 1666/67 as a simple, rectangular structure. Visits are possible by appointment.

One date in Monheim’s administrative history is 1523: with imperial approval, Count Palatine Ottheinrich of Palatinate-Neuburg transferred the regional court from Graisbach to Monheim.

Exploring the Town’s History

Information panels complement the Letter Trail and share interesting facts about the town’s history. The 1.2-kilometre Lauschtour audio trail takes you to various historic sites in Monheim. With the “Bayerisch-Schwaben-Lauschtour” smartphone app, you can explore Monheim’s history at your own pace and whenever you like, with an audio guide. Check in advance whether the app is available. The Stadthupferl Tour offers a different way to explore Monheim as part of the small towns of Bavarian Swabia, with digital content, stories and various stops.

The tours focus on different aspects: information panels introduce the town’s history, the Lauschtour adds audio, and the Stadthupferl Tour combines digital content with stories and stops. If you are interested in a long-distance pilgrimage route, Monheim marks the start of the final stage of the Pilgrims’ Way. The route passes through Altmühltal Nature Park to monasteries, churches and places of worship.

Planning Information

The Tourist Information Office in Monheim provides residents and visitors with tourist brochures, information about attractions and event listings. It also offers cycling, hiking and leisure maps for Monheimer Alb, Ferienland DONAURIES, Geopark Ries and Altmühltal Nature Park. The Monheimer Alb hiking guide describes all the routes and is available free of charge from the Tourist Information Office; check in advance whether it is currently available.

The indoor swimming pool has its own timetable: it underwent extensive renovation and expansion in 2017 and is offered as JURABAD Monheim with step-free access. It is expected to reopen at the end of October 2026; check its current operating status before visiting. The 25-metre sports pool has a specialised pool lift, and visitors can ask the pool team for assistance when getting in.

The Wider Region: Donau-Ries

In the wider travel destination of Donau-Ries, the district describes Geopark Ries, with the Ries Crater formed by a meteorite impact, as a tourist attraction. In Nördlingen, the town museum explores topics including the lives and beliefs of local people, the Reformation, the Thirty Years’ War and the 1634 Battle of Nördlingen. It displays a collection more than 150 years old across four floors; a model illustrates the battle with around 6,000 tin soldiers.

Discover more destinations: Oberndorf Am Lech, Nördlingen, Ehingen Am Ries, Harburg, Oettingen In Bayern, Donauwörth, Kaisheim, Fremdingen.

See the overview of the wider region: Donau-Ries.