Schlüsselfeld: Baroque Church, Old Town and Trails

Schlüsselfeld lies around 30 kilometres southwest of Bamberg, in the Steigerwald and the valley of the Reiche Ebrach. Baroque church art, traces of the medieval fortifications and trails of very different lengths give the town a variety of character. When planning your visit, it is worth considering the town’s history and the routes separately: there is a circular trail about 2.4 kilometres long, a forest route of similar length and a 204-kilometre cycling tour.

The Church of St. Mary and its Baroque interior

Schlüsselfeld’s Baroque Church of St. Mary is dedicated to “Mary, Help of Christians” and is considered a faithful copy of the famous pilgrimage site of Mariazell in Styria. In the high altar, a canopy supported by twelve columns shelters the miraculous image. Crowns were acquired for the Madonna and Child Jesus; on feast days, the miraculous image is dressed in garments made especially for it. Other features of the overall Baroque interior include the altar used for Mass, installed in 1998, two side altars, the pulpit and a typical Franconian Baroque organ.

Old Town, Market Square and local culture

Schlüsselfeld’s Market Square features the St. Peter’s Fountain, a group of restored Baroque townhouses and a row of lime trees. The Upper Gate is part of the medieval late-Gothic fortifications. Those interested in local history can also explore it on the Historic Trail: this walk, about 2.4 kilometres long, leads through the medieval old town and has 28 stops devoted to the town’s history and stories.

The cultural programme “Culture in Old Walls,” established in 1997, includes theatre, cabaret, poetry readings, music, and art and topical exhibitions. It has since built up a loyal following. Another cultural tradition is Schlüsselfeld’s Nativity Trail, with nativity scenes from various periods and styles displayed at around thirty locations. It traditionally opens with the large nativity scene in the Market Square on the first Sunday of Advent.

Comparing walks and cycling routes

The Historic Trail and the Forest Discovery Trail are a similar length: around 2.4 kilometres and 2.5 kilometres, respectively. Their themes differ considerably. The Historic Trail passes through the old town, with its 28 stops devoted to Schlüsselfeld’s history and stories. The Forest Discovery Trail starts in Schlüsselfeld, follows forest tracks and offers entertainment for adults and children at eight stops. You can therefore choose between a historical town walk and a route through the forest without much difference in the stated distances.

The Prince-Bishop’s Tour is a different kind of route. Its stated length is 204 kilometres, and it starts and ends in Schlüsselfeld; the entire tour is signposted in both directions. This makes for a contrast between a short walk and a long cycling tour. Another local amenity is the Kneipp facility, set in natural surroundings by the Reiche Ebrach. Its pool is about 15°C and is fed by the river.

Geographical location and getting there

For getting there, two useful reference points are Schlüsselfeld’s own junction with the A3 motorway between Nuremberg and Würzburg and its membership in the Greater Nuremberg Transport Association (VGN). The town’s location in the Steigerwald and the valley of the Reiche Ebrach also provides the geographical setting for the trails and the Kneipp facility described above.

Culture in the wider Bamberg destination

The wider Bamberg destination offers more cultural and historical attractions. Weissenstein Palace near Pommersfelden is one of Germany’s major Baroque complexes and houses an extensive gallery with works by French, Italian, German and Dutch painters.

In the 18th century, the Ebrach Abbey complex was extensively remodelled by Leonhard Dientzenhofer into a Baroque complex resembling a palace; the Gothic church with its rose window was preserved. Since 2004, the Museum of the History of Ebrach has been housed in the former Cistercian monastery and covers the history of the market town and the monastery.

Discover more destinations: Hirschaid, Baunach, Memmelsdorf, Kemmern, Pommersfelden, Buttenheim, Frensdorf, Litzendorf.

Back to the overview of the wider destination: Bamberg.