The monastery church in Lorch contains a Hohenstaufen tomb, dated to 1475. This detail leads to one of the town’s defining themes: Lorch Monastery was founded around 1100 as the Hohenstaufen family monastery and is a burial place for members of the House of Hohenstaufen. The collegiate church, now the Evangelical Town Church, is also part of Hohenstaufen history: it was the first known burial place of the Hohenstaufen dynasty.
Lorch Monastery and its history
The permanent exhibition at the monastery covers the building history of the monastery complex and Benedictine monastic life. Those interested in the building and its religious history will find two different ways to explore this place. The Hohenstaufen circular mural at Lorch Monastery measures 30 by 4.50 metres. The Baroque Prelate’s Room has been open to visitors on guided tours since 2007.
The monastery garden includes a fully preserved circular rampart that surrounds it. Beside the monastery church is the sensory garden, designed to engage the senses and especially prominent in the warmer months. From Marsilius Tower, views stretch across the monastery grounds and their surroundings. The monastery brings together historical themes, gardens and a viewpoint, each offering a different focus for a visit.
Hiking and discovering the landscape
The Limes Hiking Trail HW 6 runs through Lorch and follows the remains of a Roman frontier fortification dating back approximately 1,800 years. A section of the trail in the Lorch area starts at a reconstructed Roman watchtower above Lorch Monastery, at the Limes Bend. The town also presents eight hikes around Lorch, Waldhausen, Weitmars, Kirneck and Rattenharz. These named areas and trails offer a choice of different hiking focuses.
One landscape feature is the Schelmenklinge, a narrow, wooded gorge. Seasonal water features are installed there from May to October; check their availability before visiting. Another special activity is offered by the Hohenstaufen Falconry at Lorch Monastery, with a flying display featuring birds of prey. Here too, check the programme’s availability in advance. The gorge and the flying display are different ways to spend time outside the historical exhibitions.
Town walks, guided tours and cycling routes
The Historic Town Walk in Lorch has 34 stops. Lorch also offers guided historical town tours, monastery tours, literary walks and light-hearted tours. Each format has a different focus: you can choose to explore the town’s history, the monastery, or literary and humorous perspectives. A guided tour and the self-guided walk with its stops are different ways to discover Lorch.
Cycling routes are also connected with Lorch Monastery, including the Hohenstaufen Route and the King Philip of Swabia Tour. These routes add to the choice of hikes without offering the same kind of exploration. You can shape your stay around your interests: the monastery’s history and exhibition, the town’s history on foot, or time on hiking and cycling routes.
Getting to Lorch and finding accommodation
Lorch Monastery is accessible via the Stuttgart–Schwäbisch Gmünd railway line. From Lorch station, it is a ten-minute walk to the monastery. Check the timetable before travelling. If you are looking for a hotel in Lorch, the main focus of your stay can help guide your choice: would you like to spend plenty of time exploring the monastery and Hohenstaufen history, walk the Historic Town Trail, or focus on hiking? The railway connection offers a practical way to plan your journey to the monastery.
Discover more destinations: Ellenberg, Kirchheim Am Ries, Durlangen, Ruppertshofen, Täferrot, Wört, Waldstetten, Adelmannsfelden
Back to the regional travel overview: Ostalbkreis.
