Monheim: Half-timbered Houses, City Gates and History to Discover

Half-timbered houses around the market square, a medieval city gate and traces of a long church and city history give Monheim its distinctive character. There are also various ways to discover the city’s history—from the Letter Trail to the audio tour. These themes can also help guide your choice of holiday apartment in Monheim, depending on what you want your stay to focus on.

Half-timbered houses and gates shape the townscape

The Moserhäuser are residential and commercial buildings dating from the 15th and 16th centuries. They adjoin the Upper Gate, also known as the Donauwörth Gate. Built around 1350, the gate is a landmark of Monheim, together with the Moserhäuser. The houses were built in the Franconian half-timbered style; they take their name from the widow Moser, who ran a grocery store there. Gates and towers in the town wall are also among the features that shape Monheim’s townscape.

Visitors who enjoy noticing architectural forms and details will find several historic points of interest in Monheim. The upper floor of the town hall preserves colorful stucco ceilings by the Wessobrunn School. They are located in the large council chamber, the small meeting room and the wedding room, and depict scenes from the Old Testament. The ceilings can be viewed during office hours; check the current opening hours before your visit.

Churches and monastic history

A Benedictine convent was founded in Monheim around 870, and a first small church was built that same year. Today, only the western wing of the former cloister remains. The present-day Church of St. Walburga dates from around 1500 and incorporates the lower section of the earlier tower. Late Gothic traces meet Baroque interior furnishings in the church. St. Walburga’s Chapel also has a Late Gothic net-vaulted ceiling dating from the 16th century.

St. Peter’s Chapel also tells the story of later building phases: the present building was rebuilt in 1666/67 as a simple rectangular structure. Visits can be arranged by appointment. Another significant historical event was the relocation of the regional court: in 1523, Count Palatine Ottheinrich of Palatinate-Neuburg moved it from Graisbach to Monheim with imperial approval. If you would like to focus your stay on churches, architectural history and city gates, a holiday apartment in Monheim can serve as a base for planning your own itinerary.

Discover the city’s history at your own pace

Information boards supplement the Letter Trail, sharing interesting facts about the city’s history. Another option is the “Bayerisch-Schwaben-Lauschtour” smartphone app: its audio guide lets you discover Monheim’s history at any time and at your own pace. The audio tour is 1.2 kilometers long and leads to various historically significant places in Monheim. The Stadthupferl Tour explores Monheim as part of the Small Towns of Bavarian Swabia, with digital content, stories and various stops.

Each option offers a different focus: the Letter Trail centers on information boards about the city’s history, while the audio tour lets you listen at your own pace. If you prefer to follow different stops and digital stories, you can consider including the Stadthupferl Tour in your plans. The Monheimer Alb hiking guide describes all the routes and is available free of charge from the Tourist Information Office in Monheim. Ask there about current availability.

The Tourist Information Office provides residents and visitors with tourist brochures, information about attractions and event listings. It also offers cycling, hiking and leisure maps for the Monheimer Alb, the DONAURIES holiday region, the Ries Geopark and the Altmühltal Nature Park. Monheim also has a Ries Geopark information center.

Other interests to consider for your stay

Monheim marks the start of the final stage of the Pilgrims’ Way. The route passes through the Altmühltal Nature Park to monasteries, churches and places of worship. This long-distance route adds to the themes you can explore directly in Monheim. If you are interested in religious architectural history, you can take both into account when planning without combining the different stops into a single tour.

JURABAD Monheim is another way to add to your plans. The indoor swimming pool underwent extensive renovation and expansion in 2017 and has step-free access. Reopening is expected at the end of October 2026; check its current operating status before visiting. Visitors entering the 25-meter sports pool can use a special pool lift and receive assistance from the pool staff. Check the latest operating information before planning your visit.

Whether you are more interested in half-timbered houses and city gates, churches and monastic history, digital storytelling or the Pilgrims’ Way, these different themes give you ideas for shaping your stay around your own interests. When searching for a holiday apartment, consider which experiences interest you most and plan accordingly.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Oberndorf Am Lech, Ehingen Am Ries, Rain, Harburg, Mertingen, Ries, Marxheim, Wallerstein.

Back to the regional travel overview: Donau-Ries.