Schwäbisch Gmünd: Remspark, Zeiselberg and the Old Town

Stops along the route

1. 1

   Remspark

   bei km 0.2 · show on map

   Water and urban greenery meet here. The park was created for the 2014 State Garden Show, extending the Stadtgarten north of the Rems. The redesign also brought the confluence of the Josefsbach and Rems back into view. This holds a piece of local history: the name Gamundia refers to the river mouth and is the origin of the town’s name. Today’s green space thus tells the story of both a recent urban transformation and the geographical roots of Schwäbisch Gmünd.

2. 2

   Rinderbacher Torturm

   bei km 1.5 · show on map

   The pale stones in the façade tell of an attack on the town. They mark damage caused by cannonballs during the siege of 1546, in the Schmalkaldic War. The 35-metre-high gate tower was part of the outer town wall. At a gate like this, the defences had to serve 2 purposes: allowing people and goods to pass through while securing access in times of danger. The tower thus represents both everyday life in a walled town and the threat of war.

3. 3

   Grabenallee am Josefsbach

   bei km 2.4 · show on map

   The Josefsbach sets the course of this green corridor. Grabenallee brings together the flowing water, a tree-lined promenade and the town’s houses. Playgrounds also line the avenue, making the stream corridor part of the town’s public green space. Water, trees and buildings sit close together here. You experience a different side of Schwäbisch Gmünd from its stone-paved old town squares: an urban open space centred on a stream.

4. 4

   Zeiselberg Viewing Platform

   bei km 3.5 · show on map

   The platform offers views over the rooftops of Schwäbisch Gmünd. From this elevated position, the town centre can be seen as a coherent whole. The hill’s landscaping also reflects the surrounding countryside: vines and a small vineyard hut evoke the wine-growing tradition of the Remstal, while juniper represents the Ostalb. Zeiselberg thus combines views of the town with features of its wider region. Today’s leisure area also includes a large slide and places to eat and drink on the hill.

5. 5

   Königsturm

   bei km 3.6 · show on map

   This defensive tower rises to a height of around 40 metres. It formed part of the outer town fortifications and served as a lookout tower along the circuit of walls. Its history, however, extends beyond defence: until 1802, it was used as the town prison. Women accused of witchcraft were also held in its dungeon. The building thus reflects different aspects of the former imperial city: protecting its boundaries, keeping watch over the town and administering justice.

6. 6

   Heilig-Kreuz-Münster

   bei km 4.1 · show on map

   This large Gothic church is closely associated with the Parler family of master builders. Work on a hall church began in the early 14th century on the site of an earlier Romanesque church, but was not completed until 1521. A major setback came when both towers collapsed in 1497. The imposing church was left without these towers, and this is how it continues to shape the townscape today. Its furnishings include the Holy Sepulchre from the mid-14th century and the Sebaldus Altar of 1510. For the town’s medieval citizens, building this church was a task spanning many generations.

7. 7

   Johanniskirche

   bei km 4.3 · show on map

   Rounded arches and the Romanesque tower point to an earlier architectural period than the Gothic style of the minster. This aisled basilica with its rows of piers was built between around 1220 and 1230. Its foundation is linked to the legend of the ring: Agnes, the wife of Duke Friedrich of Swabia, is said to have lost her wedding ring while hunting. The duke vowed to build a church wherever it was found. According to the legend, the ring reappeared in the antlers of a slain stag. Later restoration work has also shaped the church’s present appearance; the tower is among its surviving Romanesque features. Inside, historic stone sculptures from Johanniskirche and the minster are preserved.