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Nördlingen – Imperial city in a crater
The town of Nördlingen in Bavarian Swabia is located in the center of the Nördlinger Ries, an impact crater formed approximately 15 million years ago by a meteorite. The historic old town is surrounded by a completely preserved city wall with five gates and eleven towers, which can be traversed entirely on foot. The cityscape is dominated by the late Gothic hall church of St. George, whose 90-meter-high tower, called Daniel, provides a wide view across the Ries basin. A geological unique feature is the suevite stone used to construct many of the town's buildings; it contains millions of tiny diamonds created by the enormous pressure of the impact. Nördlingen was an important trading center in the Middle Ages at the intersection of major long-distance roads. Today, the Ries Crater Museum is a central starting point for visitors to understand the formation history of this globally unique landscape. The circular structure of the alleys bears witness to stable urban development within the defensive ring.
- Location: Bavaria, Germany
- Top sights: St. Georg · Daniel · Stadtmuseum
- Nearby: Bopfingen (10 km)
Best time to visit & climate
The most pleasant time to visit is Jun–Aug.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg °C | -1 | 0 | 4 | 9 | 13 | 17 | 19 | 18 | 14 | 9 | 4 | 0 |
| Rain mm | 59 | 43 | 49 | 44 | 85 | 74 | 87 | 81 | 56 | 56 | 56 | 60 |
📋 Practical info
History & landmarks
middle-ages
1215–1803
Geography
Facts
- The Ries crater has a diameter of approximately 25 kilometers.
- The city wall is 2.7 kilometers long and completely accessible.
- The Daniel church tower houses one of the last inhabited watchman rooms.
- An estimated 72,000 tons of diamonds are embedded in the suevite rock.
- The Battle of Nördlingen took place in the year 1634.
- The meteorite struck at a speed of approximately 70,000 km/h.
Explore nearby
Notable places around
Route planner — Car & Motorhome
Where do you start? We build the route here, with stops and country notes along the way.
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Sights in the town Nördlingen – Imperial city in a crater (10)
Spitalkirche
Church building in Nördlingen, former hospital church, now used for events.
Infozentrum Geopark Ries🏛 museum
Information center about the Ries meteorite crater, with an exhibition on geology and formation.
Winter'sches Haus
Historic burgher house from the 16th century, richly decorated with frescoes and an oriel window.
Rieskratermuseum🏛 museum
Geological museum in the former arsenal, documenting the meteorite impact 15 million years ago.
Reißturm
Three-story round tower of the city fortifications, built 1644/45 on older foundations.
Münzhaus
Building in Nördlingen, former mint from the 16th century.
Reimlinger Tor
City gate with a square base from the 14th century, outer gate from the 16th century.
Sights nearby
Frequently asked questions
What is special about Nördlingen?
Can you climb the church tower?
How long is the city wall?
Is there a museum about the meteorite impact?
How do you get to Nördlingen from Munich?
Nördlingen – Imperial city in a crater: where is it located?
Nördlingen – Imperial city in a crater: what is there to see?
Nördlingen – Imperial city in a crater: when is the best time to visit?
Nördlingen – Imperial city in a crater: why is it worth visiting?
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