Wittelshofen lies right at the foot of the Hesselberg and at the confluence of the Sulzach and Wörnitz rivers. The river landscape, town centre and Roman history within the municipality give a trip several different focal points. If you are looking for accommodation, deciding whether to focus primarily on local history, the landscape or Roman sites can help you choose.

Town Centre, Churches and Landscape

At 689 metres, the Hesselberg is Wittelshofen’s local mountain. St Martin’s Church stands in the old town centre; the Catholic Church of the Holy Cross is on the edge of the settlement on the hillside. Their different locations help orient you within the townscape: one church is in the old town centre, while the other is at the edge of the settlement.

Another place to explore local history is the Zoller Local History Museum in the tithe barn. It displays more than 2,000 exhibits on village and church history, brewing and Franconian traditional dress. The collection thus brings together several themes that reflect the history and culture of the town.

Roman History in the Municipality

Roman history is another major theme. The LIMESEUM is a Roman museum that opened in 2012; it is considered the central museum for the UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Limes in Ansbach district. The remains of the Limes lie within the municipality near Dühren and the Gelsmühle. They are a distinct geographical point of interest alongside the churches and local history museum in town.

Ruffenhofen Roman Park extends across several municipalities; its features include a reconstructed façade of a Roman longhouse with an adjoining garden. A viewing mound offers a panoramic view of the park grounds. Former Roman roads run through the park; signs, large-scale illustrated scenes and casts of Roman stone monuments provide information about the buildings and Roman life in the area. The park also includes a labyrinth and a Roman garden with the façade of a Roman strip house. The labyrinth was created in July 2009 as part of an international work camp, and the Roman garden has been open to visitors since 2020. Fruit trees and the orchard meadow planted in 2009 add to the grounds; the park is a stop on the Franconian Cider Route.

According to the operator, the Roman Park can be visited free of charge at any time; the LIMESEUM is not included. Check the access rules before your visit. The LIMESEUM lends families with children a discovery backpack for €20, including a €15 deposit. With a map, you can explore the Roman Park and, at various stations, try activities such as reconstructing a section of the Limes with a tower and palisade, playing Roman games and identifying herbs by smell. Check the loan conditions in advance.

Further Cultural Attractions in the Wider Ansbach Destination

If you look beyond Wittelshofen to the wider Ansbach destination, you will find other cultural highlights. The Franconian Literature Trail in Wolframs-Eschenbach is a 2.2-kilometre, wheelchair-accessible circular route around the town fortifications. Its 15 information boards feature authors from the Middle Ages to the present day whose works explore Franconia. The Löhe and History Trail in Neuendettelsau leads to sites in Neuendettelsau and to churches in Reuth and Wernsbach; each stop has an information board. It focuses on the 19th century and the work of Pastor Wilhelm Löhe in Neuendettelsau. The trails differ in both subject and format: one is a circular route with literary information boards, while the other links sites in several locations.

Discover more destinations: Heilsbronn, Neuendettelsau, Wolframs-Eschenbach, Schillingsfürst, Unterschwaningen, Aurach, Bechhofen, Sachsen bei Ansbach

For the wider travel overview: Ansbach.