Castle windows featuring two architectural styles, chapel art and cycling routes of varying lengths give Hirschhorn (Neckar) a distinctive character. If you are looking for a holiday apartment, the town’s history, regularly held concerts and cycling routes can help you decide what to focus on during your break.

History and Architecture

Ersheim was first mentioned in a document in 773 as a donation to Lorsch Abbey and is Hirschhorn’s oldest district. Hirschhorn Castle was built in the mid-13th century. The surviving window remains show both round-arched Romanesque and pointed Gothic forms. The contrast between the arches brings the difference between the two architectural styles into focus.

Ersheim Chapel offers further historical details: its central nave, the oldest part, dates from around 1355 and is decorated with frescoes. The chapel also contains medieval tombs of the Knights of Hirschhorn. Worth seeing are a late Gothic depiction of the Mount of Olives with figures and the Elendstein, donated in 1412; the Elendstein is a funerary lantern. In summer, around 800 female greater mouse-eared bats raise their young beneath the roof timbers.

There are historical traces beyond the chapels and the castle, too: high-water marks can be seen in several places on the town wall and on the houses behind it. The Langbein Museum has received several awards.

Cultural Events and Cycling Routes

The recently restored castle chapel at Hirschhorn Castle is a venue for civil wedding ceremonies. Concerts are regularly held in the Carmelite monastery church and in the monastery courtyard or chapter house. Most of the proceeds from these concerts go towards maintaining the monastery church. If you are planning to attend a concert, check the specific date in advance.

Two cycling routes of notably different lengths are of interest to cyclists. The ADFC awarded four stars to the 77-kilometre Neckar Valley Cycle Route, which runs from Neckargemünd via Hirschhorn to Bad Wimpfen. The Castle Road Cycle Route runs for 410 kilometres from Mannheim via Hirschhorn to Bayreuth. The direct comparison in length—77 versus 410 kilometres—shows the routes’ different scales and can help you plan your cycling accordingly.

More Places to Explore in the Wider Bergstraße Destination

Lorsch Abbey is also a cultural destination in the wider Bergstraße region. The abbey is already named as the recipient of the donation in the early record of Ersheim. Lorsch is home to one of the best-preserved Carolingian buildings north of the Alps; in 1991, the abbey was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List. Public guided tours are available for groups of two or more. Check the latest dates and prices when planning your visit.

In the Bergstraße district, gentle vineyards meet the Odenwald. Riesling is the Bergstraße’s signature white wine grape, while Spätburgunder (Pinot Noir) dominates among red wines. You can sample Red Riesling and other Bergstraße specialities directly from producers, in wine taverns or at wine festivals. In Heppenheim, the “Wine & Stone” experience trail is around 6.9 kilometres long and features approximately 70 information stations. An autumn hike takes place along the route each year on 3 October from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.: at five stops, hikers can enjoy wines and food among the vineyards. Check the event details if this date is important to your trip.

Discover More Destinations

Einhausen, Lorsch, Gorxheimertal, Lampertheim, Bürstadt, Lautertal, Birkenau, Grasellenbach

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