Scharlachrennen
The Scharlachrennen is one of Germany's oldest horse-racing events, with roots in the Middle Ages, held annually in Nördlingen. Gallop races against a historic backdrop make it a tradition-rich highlight.
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Nördlingen
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ℹ️Practical info — Nördlingen
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🌤 Weather — 5 days
📍 Nearby
Sights nearby
💡 Tips
- You can walk the entire perimeter of the medieval city wall for free, as it is completely covered and intact.
- Climb the 'Daniel' (the tower of St. Georg's Church) for the best view of the Ries meteorite crater.
- Listen for the night watchman's call 'So G'sell so' from the tower after dark.
- Visit the Rieskrater Museum to understand how the meteorite shaped the landscape and built the town.
- Park outside the city gates like the Baldinger Tor to avoid navigating the narrow medieval streets.
🍽 Food
🍽
Rieser Bauerntorte
A flat apple cake with a distinct pattern, easily found in local traditional bakeries.
🍽
Swabian Maultaschen
Order these hearty meat-filled dumplings at traditional inns in the historic center.
🍽
Rieser Beer
Try a freshly poured local beer from regional breweries near the market square.
🛍 Shopping · 🧘 Quiet spots
🛍
Market Square
Visit the square on market days to buy local Swabian and Franconian specialties.
🛍
Old Town Artisan Shops
Look for handmade crafts and ceramics in the narrow lanes around St. Georg's Church.
🧘
Marienhöhe
A relaxing landscape park on a small hill with old oak trees and great paths.
🧘
Far City Wall Walkway
The sections of the wall furthest from the main gates are incredibly peaceful for a quiet stroll.
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Highlights of 2026
3
Nördlinger Mess'
The Nördlinger Mess' (Whitsun fair) is the largest folk festival in northern Swabia, held annually around Whitsun. Festival tents, fairground rides and a varied programme draw visitors from across the region to the historic town in the Ries.
Stabenfest
The over-600-year-old Stabenfest is Nördlingen's traditional children's festival in early summer, with a parade through the historic old town. The highlight is the "Stabenklettern", in which children climb a smooth tree trunk, led by the boys' band.
Nördlingen, located in Bavarian Swabia, is a geological and historical phenomenon of the highest order. The city is situated right in the center of the Nördlinger Ries, a gigantic crater created by a meteorite impact some 15 million years ago. This fascinating cosmic event is vividly explained at the local RiesKraterMuseum. Truly unique on a global scale is the town's medieval defensive wall, which completely encircles the historic core and remains the only city wall in Germany that you can still walk along in its entirety today. A stroll on top of the wall provides dreamlike views of the winding cobblestone alleys and magnificent half-timbered houses. The cityscape is proudly dominated by the Gothic St. George's Church and its roughly 90-meter-high bell tower, affectionately called "Daniel"; those willing to climb its 350 steps are rewarded with an incomparable panoramic view over the entire Ries crater. Culinarily, Nördlingen tempts visitors with historic inns serving hearty Swabian specialties like Maultaschen. A visit here truly feels like traveling back in time to the Middle Ages.
- Location: Bavaria, Germany
- Top sights: Nördlingen City Wall · Ries Crater Museum · Bavarian Railway Museum
- Nearby: Bopfingen (11 km)
- Population: ~21.053
Best time to visit & climate
The most pleasant time to visit is Jun–Aug.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg °C | -1 | 0 | 4 | 9 | 13 | 17 | 19 | 18 | 14 | 9 | 4 | 0 |
| Rain mm | 59 | 43 | 49 | 44 | 85 | 74 | 87 | 81 | 56 | 56 | 56 | 60 |
Geography
Facts
- The meteorite crater has a diameter of 25 km
- The city wall has 5 gates and 11 towers
- The 'Daniel' tower is built from suevite (impact rock)
- First mentioned in 898 as 'Nordilinga'
- Located on the famous Romantic Road
- Home to a railway museum with historic steam locomotives
Explore nearby
Notable places around
Route planner — Car & Motorhome
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Sights in the town Nördlingen (8)
Frequently asked questions
What is special about Nördlingen's location?
The city is located in the middle of the Ries crater, created by a meteorite impact 15 million years ago.
Can you walk on the city wall?
Yes, Nördlingen has Germany's only completely preserved and fully walkable city wall.
What is the 'Daniel'?
That is the name of the 90-meter-high tower of St. George's Church, from which you can see the crater rim.
Is there still a night watchman?
Yes, the tower watchman calls out the traditional 'So G’sell so' every night from 10 PM to midnight.
What does the Ries Crater Museum show?
It explains the crater's formation and displays real moon rocks from the Apollo 16 mission.
Nördlingen: where is it located?
Nördlingen is located in Bavaria, Germany.
Nördlingen: what is there to see?
Highlights include Nördlingen City Wall, Ries Crater Museum, Bavarian Railway Museum.
Nördlingen: when is the best time to visit?
The most pleasant time to visit is Jun, Aug.
Nördlingen: why is it worth visiting?
Nördlingen, located in Bavarian Swabia, is a geological and historical phenomenon of the highest order.
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