The iconic emblem of Weikersheim, with its state recognised resort town, is the magnificent renaissance palace with the palace gardens, which are laid out in the style of Versailles. The baroque interior decoration has been almost entirely preserved, with a particularly impressive ‘Rittersaal‘ (‘Knights‘ Hall‘). The historic marketplace is surrounded by the town‘s parish church, the Kornbau museum of rural life, the baroque town hall and the palace entrance. The world‘s largest youth music organisation, the ‘Jeunesses Musicales Deutschland‘ has its headquarters here. The TauberPhilharmonie concert hall is the cultural centre of the Tauber Valley and serves as an events venue for concerts, music, art and cultural displays.
Weikersheim
Plenty of music and a touch of Versailles
History
- AD 837 Earliest known mention in a deed of gift of Fulda Monastery (‘Wichartesheim’)
- since 1156 Seat of the Hohenlohe family
- 1323 Town charter; construction of the town walls
- 1414 Construction of the Gothic Parish Church
- 1595-1603 Construction of the Renaissance tract on the old moated castle
- 1709-1724 Baroque extensions and creation of the court garden with orangery
- Since 1953 Jeunesses Musicales summer courses in Weikersheim
- 1967 Castle sold to the county of Baden-Württemberg
- May 2017-July 2019 Construction of the TauberPhilharmonie
Highlights
Weikersheim has one of the most important Renaissance palaces in Germany with an almost completely preserved interior and a magnificent…
Historic market place
Historic market square with rococo fountain, Gothic town church and stately houses, Copyright Stadt Weikersheim/JenniferSauer
Kornbau
‘Kornbau’ (1582), today the Tauberland Village Museum with traditional costumes, tools and furniture from the region, Copyright Stadt Weikersheim
Old town hall
Old Town Hall (after 1567, 19th century), Copyright Stadt Weikersheim/Christel Nowak
Gänsturm
‘Gänsturm’ tower with small town museum and a panoramic view over the roofs of Weikersheim, Copyright Stadt Weikersheim/Chistel Nowak
Gothic pilgrimage church
Gothic pilgrimage church (15th/17th century) above Laudenbach with ornate interior, Copyright Stadt Weikersheim/Christel Nowak
Town wall
Town walls, many parts of which are still in good condition (14th century), with ‘Blaue Kappe’ and ‘Gänsturm’ towers, Copyright…
Young Opera Weikersheim Castle
An open-air opera evening promises a special experience with the up-and-coming talents of the opera world. The performances mark the…
Eating and drinking
Tauberschwarz, the old variety of red wine which was long thought to be extinct, is being cultivated in Weikersheim and its surrounding district. High-proof liqueurs are distilled from the fruits of the trees in the palace gardens. The honey produced by beekeepers around Weikersheim is a regional speciality.