Discover Michelstadt

Michelstadt brings together several distinct historical themes: the half-timbered houses of the old town, Einhard’s Basilica in Michelstadt-Steinbach, sections of the fortifications, and a Roman bath that can be visited in Würzberg. The Alemannenweg also provides a regional connection between Erbach and Michelstadt.

Einhard and the history of the town

Around 815, Einhard was granted the Mark of Michelstadt. Between 815 and 827, he built Einhard’s Basilica in Michelstadt-Steinbach. The basilica is one of the best-preserved examples of Carolingian architecture in Germany. These two local connections belong to the same period but relate to different subjects: the Mark on the one hand, and a building and its architecture on the other.

From 1390 onwards, the Counts of Erbach arranged for Michelstadt to be rebuilt with gates and a circular wall. Sections of the town wall and several towers have survived; there is also a double moat system. The rebuilding and surviving parts of the fortifications offer two concrete ways to explore the town’s medieval history.

Half-timbered houses, the basilica and Roman traces

Michelstadt’s old town has half-timbered houses clad with traditional small wooden shingles. The shingled façades give the houses a distinctive surface texture and add a building detail to the town’s historical themes. This means the architectural focus is not limited to the basilica or the fortifications: the design of the old town is also part of Michelstadt’s character.

A well-preserved Roman bath can be visited in Würzberg. It adds an archaeological connection to Roman times alongside the medieval and Carolingian building and local histories. The periods represented thus span the Roman past, Einhard’s era and the rebuilding from 1390 onwards.

Michelstadt and the Odenwald

The Alemannenweg runs through the Odenwald between Erbach and Michelstadt. Michelstadt is therefore one of the two named endpoints; the trail adds a regional hiking connection to the architectural themes. If you would like to include different aspects in your travel plans, you can consider the building history and the route as separate focuses.

The Odenwald, as a distinct regional setting, offers further historical and landscape-related themes. Breuberg Castle has a history of more than 850 years and is one of the largest and best-preserved castles in southern Germany. The Breuberg Museum is located in the castle.

Geology also shapes the region’s character: the crystalline Odenwald contains plutonic rocks such as gabbro, diorite, granodiorite and granite, as well as metamorphic rocks. These provide evidence of a continent-continent collision that took place between 400 and 320 million years ago.

The Felsenmeer in Lautertal formed through geological processes that began more than 340 million years ago. Numerous traces of Roman stoneworking from the 3rd and 4th centuries give it historical significance. The Felsenmeer Information Centre provides information about the formation of the Felsenmeer, Roman stoneworking, the Siegfried Spring and the Bergstraße-Odenwald Nature Park. Tours and talks on geological development, stoneworking, legends, wildlife and the Felsberg habitat can also be booked there. Check the current options before booking.

Discover more destinations: Vielbrunn, Hesseneck, Erbach, Lützelbach, Beerfelden, Bad König, Fränkisch-Crumbach, Mossautal.

Back to the main travel overview: Odenwald.