Summary
What may be the most romantic stop on southern Germany’s Romantic Road, Dinkelsbühl is a town featuring Renaissance patrician buildings surrounded by Medieval walls and towering gatehouses.
After 1274, Dinkelsbühl became a Free Imperial City, thereby being directly accountable only to the Holy Roman Emperor. This status propelled economic development, resulting in wealthy merchants and noble families constructing elaborate, gabled residences.
The city narrowly avoided devastation during the Thirty Years’ War in the 17th century when it faced a siege by Swedish forces. According to local legend, the town’s children played a crucial role in pacifying the besiegers. This significant event is commemorated each July during the Kinderzeche, one of Germany’s most vibrant folk festivals.
Now, let us delve into the top attractions in Dinkelsbühl:
1. Altstadt
Dinkelsbühl is a city designed for exploration, and even if you happen to wander through the old town, the city walls and imposing gates serve as valuable navigational references.
The predominant architectural style originates from the city’s prosperous woollen cloth trade during the 15th and 16th centuries, exemplified by the magnificent Hezelhof— a half-timbered 16th-century patrician residence enclosing a charming courtyard.
Notably, the urban layout developed organically, devoid of any original planning. Consequently, there was no designated space for a market, resulting in a compact Marktplatz and an elongated Weinmarkt.
2. St.-Georgs-Kirche
The city’s minster is a Gothic hall church, completed in the mid-15th century, replacing an earlier Romanesque building. A vestige of this prior structure remains in the form of the porch tower, dating back to the 1220s.
For €1.50, visitors can ascend to the top for panoramic views of the city and the scenic Middle Franconian countryside.
At ground level, one can marvel at the entrance, featuring a double row of 11 pillars supporting elegant net vaulting.
St.-Georgs-Kirche is adorned with art and contains no fewer than six altars. Four of these date from the 15th and 16th centuries, while the northern end of the choir features an intricate tabernacle (1480) that showcases statues of Moses, three prophets, and angels bestowing chalices.
3. Weinmarkt
One of the most striking visuals in Dinkelsbühl is the row of gabled houses that line the western side of this square. These structures were erected at the beginning of the 17th century, with the old Ratstrinkstube being particularly notable for its cupola and spire.
This former inn once had the capacity to accommodate distinguished guests, including Holy Roman Emperor Charles V in 1546 and King Gustav II Adolf of Sweden in 1632 during the Thirty Years’ War.
4. Deutsches Haus
Situated on Weinmarkt, this enchanting 15th-century ancestral residence of the Counts of Drechsel-Deufstetten stands out for its intricately ornamented timber framing.
While the house was constructed in the 1400s, its Renaissance façade dates back to 1593-94. Even amidst Dinkelsbühl’s impressive competition, this could be regarded as the most attractive residence in the city.
The timber features carvings of planets depicted as deities, alongside images of Mary with Child and Bacchus, the Roman god of wine, which reflects the marketplace’s history.
5. Haus der Geschichte
The former town hall, a collection of structures ranging from the 14th to the 16th centuries, serves as the venue for Dinkelsbühl’s history museum.
Here, visitors can engage with over 800 years of the town’s history in a modern, compelling gallery dedicated to its legacy as a Free Imperial City.
Exhibits include portraits, armor, historical weapons, tools from the woollen cloth industry, religious sculptures, and liturgical treasures. Moreover, insights reveal details of the witch trials that occurred in this building during the 17th century.
For those with children possessing a good command of German, a child-friendly tour led by a cartoon figure resembling a Renaissance-era mercenary named Mathis is available, making history more accessible for younger audiences.
6. Nördlinger Tor und Stadtmühle
Guarding the eastern entrance to the city, the Nördlinger Tor was constructed around 1400 and was adorned with a Renaissance gable in the 16th century.
Shortly before this, Emperor Charles IV granted Dinkelsbühl permission to establish two city mills in 1378. The mill located under Nördlinger Tor is integrated into the city wall and resembles a fortress rather than a traditional water mill.
Pleased to note, the child-friendly 3D museum operates within this structure, providing a range of stereograms, 3D photographs, anaglyphs, and a variety of optical illusions for visitors of all ages.
7. Rothenberger Tor
For over 600 years, travelers approaching Dinkelsbühl from the north have been welcomed by this striking tower.
The Rothenberger Tor once controlled a busy Medieval highway, and it is tall enough that visitors must take several steps back on the bridge over the moat to fully appreciate the barbican on the lower tiers, along with the coats of arms and the gable above.
On the external side, this gable has a triangular shape, while on the city-facing side, it features a more elaborate stepped design.
8. Segringer Tor
A gentle slope leads southwest to Segringer Tor, nestled at the angle of the old walls.
This section of the city is somewhat removed from the main tourist trail, yet still boasts lovely gabled houses lining Segringer Straße.
The wide street offers a pleasing perspective of St.-Georgs-Kirche, adding to the aesthetic appeal at this elevation.
Characterized by an onion dome and cupola, the gate’s distinctive appearance stems from the fact that it was reconstructed in Baroque style after its collapse in 1648 due to the Swedish siege.
9. Stadtpark
In 1988, Dinkelsbühl hosted the Bavarian State Garden Show (Landesgartenschau) and undertook a significant renovation of its city park for the event.
These gardens, which transform the former moat area into a vibrant green space, are anything but ordinary.
If desired, one could almost complete an entire tour of Dinkelsbühl’s defenses without leaving the park for more than a few moments.
The wall harmoniously integrates with the intact city fortifications through grassy ditches, along picturesque promenades adorned with trees and flowerbeds, and past tranquil ponds.
Every Sunday, starting in late May, the park’s music pavilion hosts concerts featuring jazz bands, traditional Bavarian “Jagdhorn” ensembles, and performances by the town’s Knabenkapelle youth orchestra.
10. Deutschordensschloss
Characterized by its quoins, pediment, and pilasters, this Baroque palace stands in stark contrast to Dinkelsbühl’s quaint gabled houses.
The Deutschordensschloss (Palace of the Teutonic Order) has occupied its current site since 1390 and underwent significant renovations in the early 1760s, adopting its present form.
Noteworthy features include an ornate cartouche with the order’s coat of arms above the entrance, while visitors can traverse the passageway to explore the Rococo chapel, which is resplendent with lavish stuccowork.
11. Spitalanlage
The city’s Medieval almshouse has been repurposed into an exhibition and concert venue.
This complex, dating back to 1280, was dedicated to Mary and the Holy Ghost, while its church was consecrated in 1380. Expansion occurred around the early 16th century, and the structure was revitalized in the Baroque style during the 18th century, except for the choir, which retains its Gothic frescoes.
In one corner of the almshouse, the Imperial City coat of arms can be deciphered, while a quaint inner courtyard features a wooden box mangle from the almshouse’s former laundry facility, once operated by a water mill.
12. Kinderzeche
During the Thirty Years’ War, which spanned from 1618 to 1648, significant portions of Germany were devastated amidst a tumultuous conflict.
However, Dinkelsbühl emerged relatively unscathed, which can be attributed to the watchman’s daughter who, according to tradition, led the town’s children out of the gates to beseech Gustav II Adolf to spare the city in 1632. Nearly 400 years later, the children of Dinkelsbühl enjoy ten days of festivities commencing in mid-July.
This includes a reenactment of the event, featuring a parade in which children donned in 17th-century attire receive treats in colorful bags.
13. Kinderzech’-Zeughaus
For those fortunate enough to witness the Kinderzeche in person, the high production values are sure to impress: the costumes, footwear, and weaponry appear remarkably authentic. These items are housed in a small museum, open on Sundays.
The Zeughaus also provides insights into the Kinderzeche legend, detailing how this tale, passed through generations, was adapted for a folk festival in 1897. The celebration features an extensive cast of characters encompassing Swedes, city officials, and artisans, each adorned in period-appropriate attire and carrying props that are nearly historical artifacts themselves.
14. Wochenmarkt
After turning the corner from the Weinmarkt, one arrives at the town’s charming market square, bordered by the cathedral and elegant patrician residences.
A memorial commemorating 19th-century children’s author Christoph von Schmid, whose works remain popular in the German-speaking world, can also be found here.
On Wednesday and Saturday mornings, the square becomes even more charming, as it transforms into a vibrant marketplace featuring stalls offering flowers, fruits, vegetables, cheeses, pastries, and cured meats.
15. Romantic Road
The Romantic Road offers convenient access to a multitude of enchanting towns and castles.
A noteworthy aspect of this tourist route is that it corresponds with a Medieval trade path connecting the southern regions of Germany to territories in the north.
Neighboring towns along the Romantic Road include Feuchtwangen to the north and Wallerstein to the south.
The former boasts another delightful old town featuring a splendid marketplace and a preserved Romanesque cloister associated with a former Benedictine monastery.
Wallerstein, located just 20 minutes away, is smaller yet notable for hosting one of only three Marian and Holy Trinity columns in Germany, built in the 17th century following a plague outbreak.
