Höchstädt an der Donau: Castle, Waterways and City History

Höchstädt an der Donau offers several distinct reasons to stay: the Renaissance castle with exhibitions, interactive water-themed trails, a historic church and a Friday market. When planning, you can decide whether to focus on visiting the castle and culture, exploring the trails or learning about the town’s history. Seasonal opening times for the castle and the dates of individual guided tours are relevant for some activities.

Höchstädt Castle: Exhibitions and Interactive Stations

Höchstädt Castle is a Renaissance castle commissioned by Count Palatine Philipp Ludwig of Palatinate-Neuburg in 1589. Today, the castle is home to the permanent exhibition “Europe’s Flashpoint 1704,” the Museum of German Faience, temporary exhibitions by the Swabia district and various events. A permanent exhibition, a museum and changing presentations are all available. The exhibitions include interactive stations where visitors of all ages can explore and try things out independently. The castle is open seasonally, so plan your visit around the current opening days. Regular family tours and a holiday program round out the offering. Check the castle’s current schedule in advance.

Wasser-Wisser Trail and Duchess Anna Circular Trail

The Wasser-Wisser Trail offers digital, interactive information about water. It starts in the town park opposite the Kneipp facility. Along the Pulverbach and Klosterbach streams, nine stations invite visitors to use QR codes to access quizzes and puzzles. The trail is 1.7 kilometers long, and the walk is estimated to take around 30 minutes; allow extra time to solve the puzzles. This lets you plan the walking time separately from the time spent at the stations.

The Duchess Anna Circular Trail has a different focus: it leads over a wooden boardwalk and a small suspension bridge. Information points cover Höchstädt’s history, the region and its people, as well as local flora and fauna. The trails therefore differ in focus: QR quizzes and puzzles are central to the Wasser-Wisser Trail, while the Duchess Anna Circular Trail features distinctive trail elements and information about history and nature.

Local History and Guided Tours

The Church of the Holy Spirit at the former hospital is a hall church with a gabled tower and onion dome. It was built around 1590 by the Burglengenfeld master builder Leonhard Grieneisen, who was involved in the construction of the castle at the time. The shared master builder links the church’s history to the castle’s, while the church itself is recognizable by its own architectural style.

You can also explore Höchstädt on a guided walking tour. Check locally for current dates before planning. Tours of the castle chapel offer another clearly defined insight: the Höchstädt Historical Society organizes them free of charge from October to March; tours are also available by arrangement. Check the schedule with the society in advance. When planning, you can choose between a walking tour of Höchstädt and a tour focused on the castle chapel.

Friday Market in the Market Square

The Friday market takes place every Friday in Höchstädt’s market square. It offers handcrafted products such as cheese, honey and jams. The market is a dedicated Friday destination and complements the town’s cultural and natural attractions with a specific selection of food products.

Regional Outlook: Dillingen an der Donau

In the wider Dillingen an der Donau destination, the DonAUwald hiking trail offers a longer regional route. It runs for just under 60 kilometers through the floodplain forests along the Danube, 40 kilometers of which lie in the Dillingen district. The trail is Bavarian Swabia’s first premium hiking trail. All five classic stages can be reached by train.

Also within this wider destination, the Donautal Radelspaß takes place every two years on a weekend in September, with the central event held in the Dillingen district. Three signposted routes, closed to cars, offer culinary and cultural excursions. Check the relevant event year before making plans.

Discover More Destinations

Discover more destinations: Wertingen, Gundelfingen an der Donau, Finningen, Buttenwiesen, Dillingen an der Donau, Bissingen, Holzheim, Bachhagel

To the broader travel overview: Dillingen an der Donau.