Bechhofen brings together notable memorial sites, churches, collections and trails through natural landscapes. The Jewish cemetery is one of the largest Jewish cemeteries in Bavaria. For another perspective on local history, a walking tour explores the town’s Jewish past and sights in Bechhofen.

Jewish history and remembrance

At the market square, the Holocaust memorial commemorates murdered Bechhofen Jews: it consists of 32 pebbles bearing their names. The cemetery and the memorial are distinct places of remembrance.

For those who want to explore the town on foot, the walking tour offers a starting point specifically focused on Bechhofen. It leads through the town’s Jewish past and to its sights.

Churches, museum and mill

The churches, too, reflect different periods of construction and architectural styles. In 1780, court architect Johann David Steingruber gave St. Catherine’s Church its present form. The Evangelical Lutheran St. John’s Church was completed in 1922 and is a church in the Art Nouveau style. These are two distinct historical reference points: for St. Catherine’s Church, the focus is on its present form and architect; for St. John’s Church, it is on its completion and architectural classification.

The “wiegen & messen” museum houses an extensive collection of scales, weights, measuring instruments and measures of capacity. Its focus is on Bavarian systems of measurement and weight. The museum thus complements the churches and memorial sites with a cultural-historical perspective on measuring and weighing. A Baroque mill is also located in Wiesethbruck, on the River Wieseth.

Walking tour, cycle route and mill trail

Bechhofen offers numerous cycling and hiking trails through natural landscapes. For a specific cycling route, the Wieseth Cycle Route is a clearly defined option: it runs directly through Bechhofen and is 32 kilometres long.

The Mill Trail offers a different thematic focus. It recalls the mills along the Wieseth and in the municipal area, including those in Bechhofen. While the Wieseth Cycle Route passes through the town and has a stated total length, the Mill Trail focuses on remembering the mills.

Another cultural highlight in the Ansbach destination

In the wider Ansbach destination, the Literature Trail of Franconia is located in Wolframs-Eschenbach. The accessible circular route around the town fortifications is 2.2 kilometres long. Its 15 information boards feature writers from the Middle Ages to the present day whose works explore Franconia. This literary focus differs from Bechhofen’s memorial sites, churches and collections, offering another thematic perspective within the Ansbach destination.

When choosing a hotel, your own interests can help guide you: local history, the museum and churches appeal to different interests than cycling and hiking trails. For a specific booking, check the accommodation’s availability.

Discover more destinations: Königshofen An Der Heide, Schnelldorf, Oberdachstetten, Lehrberg, Wettringen, Windsbach, Wolframs-Eschenbach, Ansbach

Go to the main travel overview: Ansbach.