Alpirsbach brings together a landmark monastery complex, a history of printing, local history and opportunities for outdoor activities. When planning your stay, you can decide whether to focus on culture in town or natural attractions in the surrounding area. If you are looking for hotels in Alpirsbach, the different themes offer concrete ideas for what you might like to discover during your time here.
The Monastery and Cloister Concerts
The Benedictine monastery in Alpirsbach is around 900 years old and a major landmark of the town. The monastery church, dedicated to St Nicholas, was built from 1125 to 1133 in the Romanesque tradition. The church and monastery provide a tangible starting point for discovering Alpirsbach’s history and architectural heritage.
The Gothic cloister is also part of the cultural history of the former Benedictine monastery: the Cloister Concerts there date back to 1952. The architecture and concert tradition represent two different sides of the monastery complex—its historic fabric and its cultural use.
Printing and Local History
At the historic Alpirsbacher Offizin print shop, visitors can see how book printing works. They can also plan and carry out their own printing projects there, making the Offizin a distinct point of interest alongside the monastery’s history.
The Museum of Local History is next to the monastery complex and illustrates Alpirsbach’s development through a selection of collectors’ items. At the monastery museum, the permanent exhibition “Monks and Scholars” features garments, letters, drawings, games and vessels from six centuries. The two museums have different focuses: one on the town’s development, the other on objects relating to monastic life.
Outdoor Activities and Natural Attractions
The TC Alpirsbach tennis club has four professional clay courts where visitors and locals are welcome to play. Check access with the club in advance. Within Alpirsbach’s municipal area, the Flößerpfad trail is suitable for terrain therapy walks. Another destination for outdoor activities and relaxation is the nearby Kleine Kinzig Reservoir. It is situated in an almost untouched catchment area that is predominantly forested.
The Glaswald and Glaswiesen nature area can be reached from Alpirsbach in just a few minutes on foot. It is a nearby destination, not part of the town centre. Alpirsbach outdoor swimming pool lies among gentle hills and is noted for its special setting. Check current opening hours and prices with the operator. The golf course is also set amid expansive fields, on the edge of the Alpirsbach district of Peterzell.
Guided Tours and Getting Around
Professional guided town tours led by local guides cover a range of themes. The classic historical tour visits historic buildings and includes a walk through the spa gardens. Contact the town information office for dates if you would like to include a tour in your plans.
For arrival planning, the train and bus stations are right in the town centre. The monastery and brewery are about a five-minute walk from there. This approximate walking time provides a useful reference for these two destinations, without replacing the need to check timetables or consider other routes.
Freudenstadt as a Wider Travel Destination
Freudenstadt is also part of the wider travel destination; its attractions should be distinguished from those in Alpirsbach. Freudenstadt’s market square is the largest in Germany and features 50 fountains and arcades. The Panorama-Bad Freudenstadt complex includes a sports and leisure pool with a water-slide tower, a toddlers’ area, a sauna area, a wellness area and an outdoor pool. Experimenta is an interactive museum for the whole family. Those interested in a walking route can also try the Tannenriesen audio tour: it starts in Freudenstadt and follows an audio-guided route past the Black Forest’s largest fir tree, moss carpets and viewpoints; rustic huts along the way invite visitors to stop and relax.
Discover More Destinations
Discover more destinations: Reutin, Schopfloch, Baiersbronn, Seewald, Dornstetten, Bad Rippoldsau-Schapbach, Horb am Neckar, Freudenstadt.
Back to the overview of the wider travel destination: Freudenstadt.
