Erlangen-Höchstadt: Church Art, Ponds and Carp

In the district of Erlangen-Höchstadt, art-historical treasures, pond landscapes and varied routes through nature come together. A stay can focus on one place or theme: church art in Kalchreuth, museums and historic buildings, the pond landscapes around Höchstadt or the region’s carp tradition. When choosing a hotel, it helps to decide first which destinations will shape your itinerary. The sights and activities are spread across different parts of the district, so base your choice of location on the places you plan to visit.

Routes through cherry orchards and pond landscapes

A three-kilometre circular trail runs through the Kalchreuth cherry orchards. Information boards cover cherries, the surrounding landscape and Kalchreuth; interactive stations focus on nature. The route thus combines a distinct landscape theme with insights into the area. Before setting off, it is worth checking the local route information.

Near Höchstadt, three routes can be distinguished by their approximate length and character. The marked, level Eisvogelweg (Kingfisher Trail) is a circular route of about 2.6 kilometres through the Franconian pond region. The Orchideenweg (Orchid Trail), about 2.2 kilometres long, is designed as a route for vehicles and pedestrians through a cultural landscape of reed-fringed ponds, wet meadows, numerous waterbirds and orchids such as the marsh helleborine. The Seerosenweg (Water Lily Trail) is a mostly level walking route of about 2.4 kilometres through the historic Gretelmark forest. Woodland ponds, water lilies, cattails and kingfishers shape the scenery there. Comparing the route lengths, the Eisvogelweg is the longest of the three; the Orchideenweg focuses on wet meadows and plants, while the Seerosenweg features woodland ponds and waterside vegetation.

The nature reserves also offer different points of interest. The Weihergebiet bei Mohrhof bird sanctuary is an Important Bird Area and one of the early Natura 2000 Habitats Directive and Birds Directive sites. Its features include rare bird species, wetlands and orchid-rich wet meadows. The Bösenbechhofener Weiher ponds lie north of the village district of Bösenbechhofen near Höchstadt. A chain of ponds fed by rainwater, they are located in the Gretelmark forest; 23.06 hectares, including surrounding habitats, were designated a nature reserve on 15 December 2012.

For further orientation, consider the district’s network of cycling and hiking trails, which opens up the landscape from the Aischgrund to the Erlanger Oberland. The Jakobus cycling pilgrimage route passes through Kalchreuth and Uttenreuth: in these municipalities, it runs through built-up areas, and elsewhere through forests and meadows. This is distinct from the 183-kilometre Upper Franconian Way of St James from Hof to Nuremberg, which also passes through Kalchreuth. Signage and route conditions on the cycling pilgrimage route may change, so check the current route before setting out.

Church art, museums and local history

St. Andrew’s Church in Kalchreuth houses a famous Passion altarpiece: a carved altar with hinged wings by Michael Wolgemut, Dürer’s teacher. In Heroldsberg, the medieval White Castle offers a different way to explore art history. Across three floors, it presents changing and permanent exhibitions of artworks spanning seven centuries.

The history of the Jewish communities can be seen in several places. In Mühlhausen, the former synagogue was built in 1756/57 on the southern edge of the town centre. Together with the Jewish cemetery, laid out around fifteen years earlier and retaining 373 gravestones, it is the only authentically preserved architectural evidence of the community’s more than 500-year Jewish history. The Jewish cemetery in Baiersdorf dates from the late Middle Ages, possibly after 1388. Along with the cemetery in Hemhofen, it is among the oldest surviving Jewish cemeteries in the region.

Bubenreuth’s history links migration with instrument making. After the Second World War, more than 2,000 musical instrument makers from the Saxon-Bohemian “Musikwinkel” found a new home there; Bubenreuth subsequently developed into a European centre for stringed-instrument making. The Bubenreutheum in the town hall explores music and integration in a permanent exhibition covering 80 square metres.

Höchstadt also offers several historic landmarks. The castle preserves the foundations of a 12-by-12-metre tower from the early 13th century, with walls three metres thick; it acquired its present appearance around 1714. The surviving town tower, dating from the 14th century, is a gate tower. It belongs to the second of three town wall or fortification rings and is regarded as a landmark of the town. Historic town and Kellerberg tours are offered in Höchstadt. Check the current dates in advance.

The Spix Museum in Höchstadt is housed in the birthplace of naturalist Johann Baptist Ritter von Spix and features an interactive presentation about his life and the history of the house. It includes a computer-controlled, light-operated rainforest diorama with animal displays and sounds, recommended especially for children. The Herzogenaurach City Museum covers local history, industry and folk beliefs. It is housed in the former Heilig-Geist-Spital, a late-medieval half-timbered building that was extensively restored using historic techniques. The Weisendorf Local History Museum features exhibits from the Seebachgrund on former rural life and work and self-sufficiency, as well as a hunting exhibition with taxidermied examples of native fur- and feather-bearing game species.

Leisure and regional specialities

Leisure activities vary as much as the landscape and cultural themes. The FreizeitAktiv-Paradies in Vestenbergsgreuth offers a summer toboggan run and a mini-golf course. At the ice rink in Höchstadt, activities include ice skating, speed skating and ice discos, as well as playing ice hockey yourself or watching the Höchstadt Alligators. Seasonal schedules may change, so check current dates before visiting. The Atlantis leisure pool in Herzogenaurach includes a wave pool, the Rocket and Roter Riese slides, a lazy river and a children’s adventure area. The offering may change; check the latest information in advance.

The Unterer Aischgrund Fisheries Museum in Adelsdorf-Neuhaus combines a museum visit with the surrounding landscape. It is housed in a historic fish house and is the starting point for a two-kilometre educational trail with information boards about Franconian fish fauna, fishing and pond farming. It offers a way to explore the pond landscape from the perspective of how it is used.

In Höchstadt a.d.Aisch, Aischgründer Spiegelkarpfen, mirror carp from the surrounding Himmelsteiche ponds, is a regional speciality. Its various culinary preparations and protected geographical indication are central to the topic; the season runs in the months with an “R” in their names, from September to April. To help visitors find restaurants, the district publishes an updated carp brochure every year. Businesses serving carp can be listed in it.

Whether you want to focus on church art, museums, routes through pond landscapes or seasonal carp dishes, first choose the places and experiences that matter to your trip.

More destinations in the district

Discover more destinations: Erlangen, Heroldsberg, Herzogenaurach, Heßdorf, Weisendorf, Höchstadt an der Aisch, Wachenroth, Uttenreuth, Baiersdorf, Bubenreuth, Gremsdorf, Eckental, Kalchreuth, Adelsdorf, Hemhofen, Marloffstein, Röttenbach.

For the main travel overview: Bavaria.