In Petersaurach, a show and teaching garden, the willow chapel and several contemplation trails explore different themes: gardening, history and the four elements. Visitors choosing the town for a stay can distinguish between these highlights. The garden is in Petersaurach, as is the learning site on Hirtenweg; the “Four Pearls on the Way of St. James” contemplation trail, by contrast, is in Großhaslach, a village in the municipality of Petersaurach.
Garden and History in Petersaurach
The show and teaching garden is on Jakob-Müller-Ring in Petersaurach, on the grounds by Ziegendorfer Weiher. The Petersaurach Fruit and Horticulture Association began maintaining the grounds in 2006. Both place names help visitors find their bearings: the ring indicates the garden’s location, while the pond identifies the grounds it belongs to. This makes it possible to locate the garden using a specific street name and its connection to the pond.
The willow chapel is between Petersaurach and Altendettelsau and offers a place for quiet reflection. Around 1350, a chapel dedicated to Mary stood next to the present-day chapel, where services were held for farmers from the surrounding villages. Its history thus links an earlier religious function with the willow chapel’s character today. For those choosing a cultural theme, this offers a different perspective from the show and teaching garden: the focus here is on the chapel and the area’s history.
Hirtenweg in Petersaurach and the Contemplation Trail in GroĂźhaslach
The learning site on the “Hirtenweg” contemplation trail in Petersaurach is suitable for children aged three and over. The Hirtenweg is about a 20-minute walk from both Petersaurach Nord S-Bahn station and Petersaurach main station. The similar walking times make the two starting points comparable for rough trip planning. The site’s age suitability and the walking time answer two different questions: what age group the learning site is suitable for, and roughly how long it takes to walk from the named starting points.
The “Four Pearls on the Way of St. James” contemplation trail was created in Großhaslach in 2012. Its four stations are called “Water,” “Fire,” “Air” and “Earth”; the elements give the trail a clearly structured thematic sequence. This is distinct from the Franconian Way of St. James, also called the “Franconian Camino,” which runs from Nuremberg via Großhaslach to Rothenburg ob der Tauber. The two descriptions of the routes emphasize different things: four stations devoted to the elements here, and a named link between the three places mentioned there.
More to Explore in the Wider Ansbach Destination
The wider Ansbach destination also offers other themes rooted in different places. In Wolframs-Eschenbach, the 2.2-kilometer Franconian Literature Trail, which is accessible to people with disabilities, runs around the town fortifications. Its 15 information boards feature authors from the Middle Ages to the present day whose works focus on Franconia. Unlike the trails in Petersaurach and GroĂźhaslach, this one centers on literary engagement with the region.
In Königshofen, the “wiegen & messen” (“weighing & measuring”) museum displays more than 4,000 exhibits. These include historical scales, their associated weights, yardsticks, folding rulers and vessels for measuring grain. The collection offers a distinct perspective on measurements, scales and everyday objects. Another regional highlight is Frankenhöhe Nature Park: it covers about 1,100 km² and lies within the districts of Ansbach and Neustadt a.d. Aisch–Bad Windsheim, as well as the independent city of Ansbach. The nature park is the source of the Altmühl, Fränkische Rezat and Zenn rivers and provides information on hiking and cycling routes as well as ranger-led tours.
Discover more destinations: Insingen, Lichtenau, Rothenburg Ob Der Tauber, Weihenzell, Unterschwaningen, Neuendettelsau, Heilsbronn, Wettringen.
Back to the wider travel overview: Ansbach.
