Schlüsselfeld combines Baroque church art, a medieval old town and paths into the surrounding area. The town lies around 30 kilometres southwest of Bamberg, in the Steigerwald and the valley of the Reiche Ebrach. The town offers a range of options for planning your trip: a walk with stops exploring local history, a forest trail, a long bike tour and cultural destinations in the historic town centre.
Church Art and Historic Town Centre
The Baroque Church of St. Mary in Schlüsselfeld is dedicated to “Mary, Help of Christians” and is considered a faithful replica of the famous pilgrimage site of Mariazell in Styria. The miraculous image is located in the high altar beneath a canopy supported by twelve columns. Crowns were acquired for the Madonna and the Christ Child; on feast days, the miraculous image is dressed in specially made garments. The Baroque furnishings also include the altar for celebrating Mass, installed in 1998, two side altars, the pulpit and a typically Franconian Baroque organ.
Historic details also shape the townscape around the market square: it features the St. Peter’s Fountain, an ensemble of restored Baroque townhouses and a row of linden trees. The Upper Gate is part of Schlüsselfeld’s medieval late-Gothic fortifications. Together, the church, market square and gate offer different glimpses into the town’s architectural and local history, without any one building defining the entire town walk.
The Historic Trail is a walk of about 2.4 kilometres through the medieval old town. Its 28 stops explore the town’s history and stories. Another cultural highlight is the “Culture in Old Walls” programme, launched in 1997: it includes theatre, cabaret, poetry readings, music, as well as art and topical exhibitions, and has since gained a loyal following.
Walking and Cycling Routes
For those looking for a forest walk as well as the old town, the Forest Discovery Trail offers a different experience. It starts in Schlüsselfeld, is 2.5 kilometres long and follows forest tracks. Eight stops offer entertainment for adults and children. The Historic Trail and the Forest Discovery Trail are similar in length; the clearer distinction is their subject matter: local history in the old town on the one hand, and a forest route with stops on the other.
The Prince-Bishop’s Tour is on a very different scale. This cycling route is 204 kilometres long, and its stated route starts and ends in Schlüsselfeld. It is signposted throughout in both directions. This puts two short walks and a considerably longer cycling route side by side as different options in the town’s offerings. When choosing a route, you can start by considering the mode of transport and distance.
Another local stop is the Schlüsselfeld Kneipp facility on the Reiche Ebrach. The pool is about 15 °C and is fed by the river. Its specific temperature and water supply from the Reiche Ebrach describe this location more precisely than a general wellness reference.
Traditions and Getting Here
The Schlüsselfeld Nativity Trail features nativity scenes from various periods and styles at around thirty locations. It traditionally opens with the large nativity scene in the market square on the first Sunday of Advent. This is a clear seasonal point of reference when planning a visit during Advent. Another cultural format is “Culture in Old Walls,” with its mix of performances, readings, music and exhibitions.
Two different details are useful when planning your journey: Schlüsselfeld has its own exit from the A3 federal motorway between Nuremberg and Würzburg and is also part of the Greater Nuremberg Transport Association (VGN). If you are planning a specific journey by public transport, check the relevant connection with the VGN; being part of the transport association is no substitute for checking the individual journey.
More Cultural Destinations in the Wider Bamberg Travel Destination
The wider Bamberg travel destination also includes independent cultural and historical attractions. Weissenstein Palace near Pommersfelden is one of Germany’s major Baroque complexes and houses an extensive gallery featuring works of art-historical significance by French, Italian, German and Dutch painters. In the 18th century, the Ebrach Abbey complex was extensively remodelled by Leonhard Dientzenhofer into a palace-like Baroque complex; its Gothic church, with its rose window, has been preserved.
Discover more destinations: Breitengüßbach, Heiligenstadt in Upper Franconia, Viereth-Trunstadt, Ebrach, Walsdorf, Hallstadt, Zapfendorf, Stegaurach.
Go to the wider travel overview: Bamberg.
