Attractions in Weinheim: castles, parks and old town

Two hilltop castles, a garden-lined castle park and a walkable half-timbered old town: Weinheim packs a lot into a small footprint. Here are the sights worth planning your visit around.

Wachenburg Castle

The younger of the two castles, built from 1907 to 1913 by student fraternities. Its tower crowns the Wachenberg and offers a sweeping view over the Rhine plain.

Windeck Castle ruins

A medieval hilltop ruin above the old town, first documented in the 12th century. A short walk up rewards you with the classic Weinheim panorama.

Castle & castle park

The former palace has been the town hall since 1938. Its free English landscape garden shelters an ancient cedar of Lebanon and sequoias.

The exotic forest

A 60-hectare arboretum with around 170 tree species from around the world, especially striking in autumn colors.

Hermannshof gardens

A free show and trial garden famous for its naturalistic perennial plantings, a highlight in late spring and summer.

Old town & market square

Half-timbered houses, the Old Town Hall of 1557 and the tanners’ quarter along the open Grundelbach brook.

Planning your visit

Weinheim sits on the German Bergstrasse, about 18 km north of Heidelberg and 15 km northeast of Mannheim. The old town, castle park and both castles form a compact loop you can cover on foot in a day, with the climb to the Wachenburg the most demanding stretch, so bring sturdy shoes.

Combine the sights with the neighboring exotic forest and the Hermannshof gardens, both free and especially rewarding in autumn and during the perennial bloom. When you are ready to settle in, see where to stay on the Weinheim hotels page, and read how the town took shape on the history page.

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