Outline Map
1. Old Gymnasium
The Old Gymnasium opened in 1886 and was the first gymnasium in Herrenberg.
Between 1989 and 1991 it was converted into a hall with a capacity of 300. The cabaret and concert evenings that take place here are very popular. Lectures, balls, club events and theatre evenings are also held here.
The Municipal Hall, officially opened in 1936, is right next to the Old Gymnasium. The re-designed Municipal Hall Gardens are located between these two buildings.
2. Stuttgart Road
Stuttgart Road is part of the Herrenberg pedestrian zone. It is impressively narrow and is flanked almost entirely by 2 to 3-storey gabled houses.
Here we find the oldest commoner's house in Herrenberg, the Gasthaus zum Deutschen Kaiser, built in the 15th century.
3. The Market Fountain
The first written reference to the market fountain occurs in 1347. The fountain provided the town's water. The column above it depicts a lion and the Wuerttemberg coat of arms.
Herrenberg is a town with numerous fountains which are located on various squares and corners of the town.
4. The Rural District Office
The Rural District Office, the Steward's House and the Wine Cellars were built on the site of the seignorial Wine Cellar Building and Fruit Store. The Steward's Office served as Rural District Office from 1759 onwards. From 1930 to 1938 it was Chief Administrative Office of the district before the district of Herrenberg was dissolved.
5. Stairs
A large number of stairs have been renovated in recent years. They are a characteristic feature of Herrenberg.
It is non coincidence that the citizens of Herrenberg used to be known as "stair-sliders".
6. The Foundation Church
The Foundation Church towers above the town and is the dominant landmark of the former Palatine and Rural District town of Herrenberg.
The church was built in two construction phases between 1276 and 1493. When it was completed, it was the first late Gothic hall church in South Germany. It is renowned for its choir stalls and bell museum. It also contains the oldest rose-window in Swabia and the oldest church bell in Wuerttemberg.
7. The Dean's Office
The former provost's building was constructed in 1439 for the secular canonical foundation. From 1481 to 1517 it housed the Brothers of the Common Life. Then it reverted to secular canons until the Reformation in 1534.
From 1534 to 1749, it was the headquarters of the High Stewards. Later it served as the private and the official residence of the Special Superintendents and Deans.
8. The Town Wall
This was built when the town was founded in 1200. It was originally 1126 m in length, of which 620 m are still visible in various parts of the old town - 250 m of which are preserved in their original height, with parapets, battlements and crenels for observation and for shooting. The best-preserved section of the town wall is near Castle Hill.
9. Castle Hill
There is a wonderful view over Herrenberg and the Gaue as far as the Swabian Alps from the viewing point on Castle Hill and from the nearby cafe. The viewing point was built in 1957 on the site of the former powder magazine.
In the Middle Ages, the castle of Count Palatine Rudolf II of Tuebingen was located on Castle Hill. It was demolished in 1807, but part of the sentry walls is preserved.
10. Market Place
The market place is a splendid example of medieval architecture and is one of the finest squares in Wuerttemberg.
It is first mentioned in a document of 1276. The half-timbered houses were built after the great fire of 1635. The town hall with the bell and clock towers dates from 1806.
The town festival and the Christmas market are held in the market place every year.
The weekly market takes place on Tuesdays and on Saturday mornings.
11. Bronngasse
Bronngasse is part of the pedestrian zone in the old town.
There are numerous shops, pubs and restaurants in this street.
12. The Cloister Garth
The Bebenhaeuser Cloister Garth was built in 1484 as a hospice. After the Reformation, it was the headquarters of the Spiritual Administrator. After the second town fire in 1635, the cloister garth was rebuilt and extended.
It was subsequently used as a Court Cameral Office. During the construction of the Gaeu railway it was used as the headquarters of the Royal Railway Administration.
Today the Cloister Garth houses the Herrenberg meeting place for senior citizens.
The medieval courtyard is used for festivals and cultural events in summer.
13. On the Ditch
The impressive feature here is the row of houses on the former town wall. In the past the town fortifications were located here, with a gate, bridge, round tower, dungeon and battlements. An illustrated chart shows the reconstruction of these fortifications.
14. The Fruit Store
The Foundation Fruit Store is one of the most striking buildings in Herrenberg.
It was built in 1683/84. Its half-timbering is richly adorned. An inscription on one of the oriel windows refers to the occupation of Herrenberg during the Peasants' Revolt.
15. Tuebingen Road
Tuebingen Road is part of the pedestrian zone in the old town. This is where we can admire the half-timbered houses that are so typical of Herrenberg.
Today they house shops, pubs and restaurants.
16. The Hospital Church
The Hospital Church and the adjoining hospital were built by a Citizens' Foundation around 1400.
It has been renovated several times. In the interior there is a wooden pulpit decorated with intarsia work. It was constructed when the hospital church was rebuilt after the town fire of 1635.
17. Pendelschlag
Pendelschlag 2000 "Jerg Ratgeb, Köche und ein Mops"
Kurz vor der Jahrtausendwende war sie fertig geworden, die Brunnen- skulptur der beiden Künstler, Hellmut Ehrath und Peter Lenk. Die auf dem Sockel des Pendelschlags befes- tigten Gipsgussfiguren aus der Herrenberger Geschichte - Jerg Ratgeb und sein Henker - bieten keineswegs ein Bild blutrünstigen Entsetzens, wie man es anlässlich einer Hinrichtung durch Vierteilen eigentlich erwarten dürfte.
Das historische Szenario wird hier vielmehr verschlüsselt dargestellt: Die Figur des Ratgebs hängt in einem manngroßen Metallrahmen an dem sie sich klammert, während der Vollstrecker nicht etwa eine Klinge, sondern ein Geflügel schwingt - Sinnbild für den Bauernstand. Im Gegensatz zu Ratgeb, der ja schon seit mehreren Jahrhunderten tot ist, handelt es sich bei den anderen Personen um Köche, sieben an der Zahl, die lendenbeschürzt den Kochlöffel stolz geschultert ums Werke herum marschieren. Dass der Prozession ein Mops voranschreitet, wird mit einem Kinderlied erklärt: "Ein Mops kam in die Küche" heißt es, "und stahl dem Koch ein Ei ..." was tödlich für den Mops endet.
18. The Municipal Hall
The Municipal Hall is a charming building with marked timbered elements located conveniently on the B14 from Stuttgart. It is very different from many new halls. It has a capacity of 800 seats over an area of 1000 sq.m, of which 450 sq.m are in the stalls. A large theatre stage of 250 sq.m, with a proscenium of 50 sq.m. There is parking space for 400 cars right in front of the Municipal Hall. Excellent catering facilities.
To sum up: the Municipal Hall in Herrenberg is a meeting place for theatre, concerts, conferences, gatherings, dances, etc.
For further details, contact us: tel: 07032-924-224; fax: 07032-924-333.
