Aurach: History, Nature and Activity

Aurach offers several different starting points for planning your trip: local history, biotopes protected at the municipal level, and a fitness trail described in detail. Those interested in culture will find connections to the history of Aurach and Weinberg; anyone interested in landscape will encounter the meadows and wet grasslands of the Altmühlgrund and its rare plants. The trail, meanwhile, focuses on exercise. This gives you the chance to consider which of these themes matter most for your stay before you travel.

Local History and Rural Living Culture

The Vogtei Museum presents information about the history of Aurach and Weinberg, as well as rural living culture in the 19th century. Its exhibits include farm implements, photographs and other objects. The collection thus combines local history with everyday culture, focusing on two places and rural life in the past. Visits to the museum are possible by prior request only.

The history of the buildings also offers specific historical references: Aurach’s Vogtei was built in 1511 on the site of an old moated castle dating from the 10th century. The moated castle is therefore identified as the predecessor of the later Vogtei. Aurach municipality is also home to Wahrberg Castle. These historical references complement the museum’s themes with the development of buildings and places.

Biotopes and Landscape

According to the biotope survey, 290 hectares of biotopes worthy of protection have been designated in Aurach municipality. The meadows and wet grasslands of the Altmühlgrund are home to rare plant communities and orchid species. The nature theme therefore focuses both on the area of designated biotopes and on specific habitats and plants. If you are interested in landscapes and rare plants, this look at the municipality offers a different perspective from local and architectural history.

Exercise on the Aurach Fitness Trail

The Aurach Fitness Trail starts at the Aurach Kneipp facility. It is 4 kilometres long and has 13 stations. The route length and number of stations give you a clear guide if you would like to include exercise in your trip plans. The trail can therefore be considered a separate activity alongside the cultural-history and landscape themes.

More to Explore in the Wider Ansbach Destination

The wider Ansbach destination includes other places and themes. The Franconia Literature Trail in Wolframs-Eschenbach is a 2.2-kilometre accessible circular route around the town fortifications. Its 15 information panels feature authors from the Middle Ages to the present who have written about Franconia in their works. While local history and rural living culture take centre stage in Aurach, this circular route combines literature with a specific time span and regional theme.

Nature and history are also explored on dedicated routes in the wider Ansbach destination. The Hesselberg Trail leads to the most scenic spots on Hesselberg and provides information about the mountain’s nature, history and geology. The Frankenhöhe Nature Park covers approximately 1,100 square kilometres and is the source of the Altmühl, the Fränkische Rezat and the Zenn rivers. Its offerings include information about hiking and cycling trails, as well as ranger-led tours.

For those interested in culture, the “wiegen & messen” museum in Königshofen displays more than 4,000 exhibits. These include historic scales, their weights, yardsticks, rulers and vessels for measuring grain. The German Brush and Broom Museum in Bechhofen a.d. Heide dedicates its permanent exhibition to household implements and specialised brushes and paintbrushes from crafts and industry. Each collection focuses on its own group of objects, setting them apart from the Vogtei Museum’s focus on local history and rural living culture.

Discover more destinations: Weinberg, Feuchtwangen, Weihenzell, Ansbach, Dinkelsbühl, Triesdorf, Bechhofen, Wörnitz.

Back to the wider travel overview: Ansbach.