Discover Gelnhausen: Imperial Palace, church and half-timbered houses

Gelnhausen combines medieval architecture, local history and interactive activities. The Imperial Palace and St. Mary's Church represent different architectural themes, while the museum and Witches' Tower offer further ways to explore the past. Themed guided tours and circular trails in the municipal forest round out the cultural programme. If you are looking for a destination with historic sights and a range of ways to engage with the town, Gelnhausen offers plenty of opportunities to do so.

Imperial Palace, St. Mary's Church and old town

The Imperial Palace of Gelnhausen is the ruin of a Romanesque moated castle. Its grounds comprise a walled inner castle and an outer bailey. Among the few surviving examples of Hohenstaufen palace architecture in Germany, it is considered the most artistically valuable. The two areas make the layout of the castle easy to appreciate and offer a distinctive perspective on its architecture.

St. Mary's Church showcases a different architectural theme: it is Gelnhausen's landmark and a magnificent church whose style reflects the transition from Romanesque to Gothic. In the old town, lovingly restored half-timbered buildings stand alongside evidence of medieval architecture. Within this historic setting, you can encounter both different architectural styles and various approaches to preservation.

Museum, hands-on activities and Witches' Tower

The Gelnhausen Museum is housed in the former Augustaschule at Obermarkt and is designed as a hands-on family museum. Across three floors, children and families are given age-appropriate information about the town's history on each topic. One hands-on exhibit is the Walk-in Ear: children in particular can crawl through a giant outer ear and ear canal to explore the middle ear.

The Witches' Tower houses a collection of replicas of torture instruments and an exhibition on the persecution of witches. Its subject differs markedly from the museum's focus on architecture and local history. If you would like to visit the Witches' Tower, check with the town in advance for current visiting arrangements.

Guided tours and trails offer further perspectives

The bookable tour “Before the Phylloxera Arrived” visits old vineyard walls and passes through the town's former wine-growing area. It combines a themed guided tour with a look at the land once used for vineyards. It is best to confirm availability with the municipal tourist office. Culinary-themed tours explore the history and skills that were important in the past and remain so today, including brewing, baking and wine pressing. Each tour includes a snack related to its theme.

There are four circular trails to choose from for walks in Gelnhausen's municipal forest. A GPS-guided hiking map from the tourist association presents 24 sights and historic sites in words and pictures. Check the map for current route details before setting out. This lets you choose between a themed guided tour and a walk along one of the signposted circular trails without conflating the two experiences.

Discover more destinations: Bruchköbel, Maintal, Flörsbachtal, Gründau, Sinntal, Biebergemünd, Bad Orb, Nidderau

For the main travel overview: Main-Kinzig district.