St Afra’s Church brings together several aspects of Täferrot’s cultural history: its architectural history, artworks and choir stalls point to different centuries. The landscape in and around Täferrot is also a topic in its own right when planning a trip. You can therefore treat a cultural focus and the surrounding area as separate interests for your stay.
A church shaped by several periods
St Afra’s Church was built in 1491. A church had already stood on the same site, and the tower of this earlier building was probably incorporated into the new one. Its architectural history thus links the late-medieval building with an older church, whose tower may have been preserved.
The artwork inside also dates from different periods. Images on the gallery parapet depict scenes from the New Testament. They were created in the 16th century, based on works by Albrecht Dürer. The Old Testament scenes opposite were not painted until after the Thirty Years’ War. The two picture cycles therefore do not represent a single period of creation: their different dates help place the furnishings in their historical context.
The choir stalls feature, among other things, a pretzel, the emblem of the Abbot of Lorch at the time. The presumed origin of the stalls also points to a connection with Lorch: they probably came from the monastery there. This origin remains uncertain; the pretzel emblem is definitely attributed to the abbot.
The landscape around Täferrot
The overview map shows only some of the ways to explore the landscape in and around Täferrot. It should therefore be seen as a selection, not a complete collection of all the options. When planning your trip, the map can serve as a starting point, but its selection should not be mistaken for a comprehensive directory.
More places to explore in the Ostalbkreis
The wider destination of the Ostalbkreis adds a distinct focus on Roman heritage to the local church theme. The Upper German-Raetian Limes, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2005, runs for around six kilometres through the municipality of Rainau, in the districts of Buch, Schwabsberg and Dalkingen. A reconstructed watchtower in Limes Park Rainau offers panoramic views across the Ostalb region.
Those interested in hiking along the Limes will find an approximately eleven-kilometre circular trail near Rainau. It takes about two and a half hours to walk. The signposted route runs from the Limes wall and the Limes Tower between Buch and Schwabsberg, through Mahdholz Forest along the Limes, to the southern edge of Schwabsberg. Its length and approximate duration provide a practical guide to this route in the Ostalbkreis.
Another historical highlight is Lorch Monastery. It was founded in 1102 by Frederick I, the first Hohenstaufen ruler, and his wife Agnes of Waiblingen as a burial place. The complex includes a medieval church, the cloister, farm buildings and the Marsilius Tower. From there, visitors can enjoy views of the monastery grounds, the herb garden, the sensory garden and the surrounding area. A permanent exhibition explores 900 years of monastic history, including through the decorated Lorch choir books.
The Tiefer Stollen visitor mine takes visitors underground into another chapter of regional history. The mine train passes mineral deposits and small stalactites on its way through sandstone chambers covering an area of 2,500 square metres, 100 metres underground. A multimedia show there introduces the history of ore mining in the Aalen area. A circular route through the mine’s labyrinth passes former mining areas, including shafts, loading points and ore-mining chambers.
Discover more destinations: Essingen, Heubach, Heuchlingen, Wört, Hüttlingen, Ruppertshofen, Obergröningen, Leinzell.
Back to the wider travel overview: Ostalbkreis.
