This calm town in Baden-Württemberg houses the 900-year-old Heidecksburg castle and sits near the Swabian Jura hills, making it ideal for walking and cycling.
Heidenheim an der Brenz, a city of 47,000 residents in Baden-Württemberg, sits at the northeastern edge of the Swabian Alb mountains. From the 13th-century Hellenstein Castle, you can look down on half-timbered houses and winding streets below. Each summer, opera singers fill the castle's Great Hall with arias during the Opera Festival, while international fencers compete in the city's renowned épée tournament. Walk along the Brenz River to spot rare orchids, or climb the limestone formations of the Wental valley.
Getting to Heidenheim
The city connects to major routes through Autobahn A7, and federal highways B19 and B466. If you're arriving by train, the Brenzbahn railway line runs between Ulm and Aalen with regular stops in Heidenheim. The city center lies just 17 kilometers south of Aalen and 33 kilometers north of Ulm.
Hellenstein Castle
The 13th-century castle rises above the city atop Hellenstein Mountain. Inside, you'll find the Museum for Carriages and Carts, part of the Württemberg State Museum, where you can examine historical vehicles from different eras. During summer months, the castle's Great Hall becomes a concert venue for the Opernfestspiele Heidenheim, with the resident orchestra Cappella Aquileia performing under conductor Marco-Maria Canonica.
Nature and Recreation
The Eselsburger Valley section of the Brenz River is home to more than 640 flowering plant species, including rare orchids, and 80 bird species. You can follow marked paths through the Swabian Alb mountains on foot or by bike. At Itzelberger See lake, you'll find a mini-golf course and swimming areas. The Wental valley draws rock climbers to its distinctive limestone formations, including the boulder-strewn Felsenmeer and the towering Wentalweible.
Sports and Culture
The annual épée fencing tournament in Heidenheim draws world-class competitors, often including more top-ranked fencers than World Championships and Olympic Games. FC Heidenheim 1846 plays its home games at the 15,000-seat Voith-Arena. The Neuer Kammerchor youth choir, established in 2005, performs classical and contemporary works across Europe.
City Center
The pedestrian zone leads to the Schloss-Arkaden shopping center in the heart of Heidenheim. Along the streets, you'll see the Gothic spire of the Protestant Michaels' Church, the Renaissance-style Elmar-Doch-House, and the medieval Lower Gate with its distinctive tower. In the former weavers' quarter, narrow lanes and small houses recall the 18th-century flax and linen industry that shaped the city's growth.
