Discover Hersbruck: City History, Museums and Hotels

Hersbruck offers several distinct highlights for a stay: historic buildings, museums and art, as well as routes along the Pegnitz and through its side valleys. If you are looking for a hotel in Hersbruck, you can first decide whether your trip is mainly about the city’s history, a museum visit, cycling and hiking tours, or connections to Nuremberg. The following places and activities offer concrete ideas to help you decide.

City history between the Pegnitz and the city wall

Hersbruck Castle was built before the year 1000 as a fortress to protect the Pegnitz bridge. Its religious buildings date from later centuries: St. Elisabeth’s Hospital Church was built in the first half of the 15th century and contains a late Gothic Crucifixion altar with carvings from the Veit Stoss School. St. Mary’s Church houses an important late Gothic retable dating from around 1480. Their different dates of origin lend distinct accents to Hersbruck’s church art.

The Wall Walk forms part of the last city fortifications, dating from the 14th or 15th century. It includes a covered, walkable defensive walkway that is 5 to 6 metres high and about 1.5 metres thick. The Gänsturm, also known as the Schwalbenturm, adds a reminder of the city’s former water supply: the round tower was built in the 15th century. From 1537 to 1895, spring water was collected there and carried through wooden pipes to six fountains in the city centre. The Water Gate was rebuilt in 1601/02 and stands by a bridge over a constructed branch of the Pegnitz.

Prager Straße also links the cityscape with its history. It is part of the “Golden Road” between Nuremberg and Prague and was incorporated into the city fortifications in the 15th century. Tall burghers’ houses with hop-drying floors and hoist brackets define its architecture. The wall, towers, gate and street can thus be viewed as distinct traces of fortification, water supply and urban life.

Museums, art and guided tours

The German Shepherds’ Museum in Hersbruck is Germany’s only museum dedicated to shepherd culture. It is housed in a two-storey burghers’ house dating from 1524. Special exhibitions explore shepherds, crafts, everyday culture and art; the building also houses local history collections and a crafts section. Interactive stations invite visitors to explore the relationship between people and farm animals in a playful way. The museum’s theme is brought to life not only through its collections but also through activities visitors can enjoy together.

The Hersbruck Art Museum showcases contemporary art, painting, sculpture and object art. Visitors can also stroll through the sculpture garden of this small half-timbered house. Another place to see art from the region is K5 Regional Art Forum Hersbruck, which hosts changing exhibitions by regional artists. The three venues have different focuses: shepherd culture and crafts, art forms in a museum setting, and rotating regional exhibitions.

Hersbruck offers varied guided city tours throughout the year, taking visitors and residents on a journey through medieval Hersbruck. Check tour dates before your trip. The Shepherds’ Day at the Shepherds’ Museum commemorates the origins of shepherding in Hersbruck with a traditional festival. The programme includes traditional music, “patschen” (a traditional shepherds’ game), a small arts and crafts market, and a visit from the Three Kings with their camels. Check the specific dates for this festival before your trip, too.

Hiking, cycling and time by the water

Almost all of Hersbruck’s circular hiking trails start and end at the town’s two railway stations, so you can also begin your hike using public transport. Other hiking trails pass through Hersbruck and follow the Pegnitz or wind through its many side valleys. Cycle routes also run through the town, along the Pegnitz or through the side valleys. The Five Rivers Cycle Route passes directly through Hersbruck and connects the river valleys of the Pegnitz, Vils, Naab, Danube and Altmühl. The planning considerations differ: for circular hikes, the stations serve as starting and finishing points, while the cycle route connects five river valleys.

Hersbruck’s Strudelbad has swimming and non-swimming pools, a spacious sunbathing lawn, and games and sports facilities for the whole family. The Pegnitz flows between the pools and the sunbathing lawn. This adds time by the water to the area’s trails and cultural attractions; check seasonal opening times before visiting.

Getting there as a planning consideration

The Pendolino connects Hersbruck with Nuremberg in around 15 minutes. The approximate journey time may be a factor in your planning if Nuremberg is also part of your travel plans. Check the timetable for your travel date before coordinating your accommodation and activities.

Discover more destinations

Reichenschwand, Schwarzenbruck, Happurg, Hartenstein, Feucht, Nuremberg, Henfenfeld, Altdorf bei Nürnberg

For the main travel overview: Nuremberg Land.