Recently we stayed at a hotel near the town of Schwabach Germany – what they call The Goldsmith Town. I decided that since we were in the area we had to check it out. This is not one the the towns that you’ll find in the big travel books but it has some unique features that make it worth a quick visit. Schwabach is located about 30 minutes from Anabach and 20 minutes from Nurnberg (or Nuremberg), Nurnberg is a popular destination if you you have time in passing through check out Schwabach.
The major highlight of this village is that for over 500 years goldsmiths in this town have been making gold leaf, in the past it was beaten by hand, today now done by machines, hence the reason why it’s called The Goldsmith Town (the link is best viewed using Google Chrome to translate it as the English version is lacking the tourism info). There is a City Museum and Gold Beater workshop that can be toured on certain dates, if your lucky you can even see a live gold beater in action! We did not get to do this since we had a basketball game to be at on Saturday.
The other neat thing is that throughout this village you can find gold leaf statues and gold leaf on buildings! We were able to find a few of them!
We found the giant golden egg statue, and it sure is big!
The golden Madonna which is in front of the church in the first picture. This is located near the walkplatz.
We found the golden roof, where the bricks were covered in 24 carat gold leaf. We had to walk into the Walkplatz to see it and get a picture.
Even the clock faces are covered with gold leaf in this village. There is no lack of gold leaf here that is for sure.
There is also this horse head fountain in the walkplatz as well, but it was not running, as I’m sure they turn them off in the winter months.
The town also had a little market set up in the walkplatz of the city center. A walkplatz is a area in the city center, usually cobble stoned, where pedestrians can walk and shop. Vehicles are not allowed and you have to park outside the walkplatz area. The main fountain looked like it was covered for winter, but I bet it looks awesome in the warmer months.
And even a truck selling a variety of meats! You don’t see that in the US!
And of course we wouldn’t be doing our traveling duty if we didn’t find a little treat shop to try out, luckily Schwabach did not leave us disappointed! In fact it has been my favorite dessert we’ve found so far!
This little cafe served ice cream, waffles, sandwiches, and drinks. There was something for everyone.
Mr. B & Bea have been on a hunt for an ice cream shop and were excited to able to get ice cream here.
Bub went for a waffle with powdered sugar, one of his new favorite treats since moving to Germany.
I had to try the waffle with cherries and it was SO good! Hot waffle with powdered sugar, warm cherries, ice cream and whipped cream, it doesn’t get any better than that! Now I just need to find these at a place closer to Spangdahlem. Or maybe not because I may end up eating them all the time 😉
As you can see Swabach is a hidden gem that is worth stopping in if your passing through that way. From the gold leaf statues to the great eats this village was worth the stop for us. I like it when we are able to find little ‘off the map’ places that are not over commercialized and this one fit the bill.
Know Before You Go:
What: Schwabach, Germany ‘The Goldsmith Town’
How To Get There: Approximately 3 hours 57 mins from Spangdahlem and 2 hours 47 minutes from Ramstein. This is also only 30 mins from Ansbach so if you travel for your kids sports teams this is an option to stay here.
Parking: Can be found in various locations, we found a free spot where we used our blue parking disc.
Cost: Free to walk around the Walkplatz, take Euro for shopping & eating if desired.
Traveling with little kids: Strollers are ok here, although I’m not sure if your wanting to visit some of the musuems.
How long: Plan on at least 1 hour to stroll around the town & eat some yummy waffles!
I have a friend who absolutely loves ‘The Goldsmith Town’ and calls it one of her favorite places in Germany. I have never been to Germany so I’ll have to take her word for it. I am like Leslie Knope with my love of waffles so I think I would die of happiness in Torten Waffln. 🙂
It really is a neat place to visit! I cannot stop thinking about that waffle, it’s driving me crazy! 😉 Hope I can find a local place soon because I really, really want one, LOL!
Greetings!
I was referred to your site by Andrea, a good friend who lives in Schwabach.
Oh, I how I do know that town. Love it. I was stationed in Schwabach in the 60s for about 4 years. I made many friends there and learned a bit of German. I have been back several times to visit my old friends. I listen regularly to RadioF (Nurnberg). I have continued to learn German and am fairly fluent today.
There is an amazing story about how Schwabach was saved by the mayor, Brit lady, and two American POWs from bombardment in the last days of WWII — it could be the basis for a movie!
It seems that in the last few days of WWII, Schwabach was scheduled to be bombed. Apparently a few Schwabachers, American POWs (fighter pilots), and a Brit-German (female) who lived in Schwabach pleaded that they would arrange for the removal of tank barriers, etc. (so troops could enter without opposition).
I’ve read other accounts and it seems that the Brit married a Schwabacher and that is why she was there. She worked as a translator. Apparently the city elders and others wanted to deliver the city to the Americans without combat but the Wehrmacht and SS troops were in town so the whole thing was dangerous. The deputy mayor apparently hinted that he would not have the police stop citizens who might want to remove the antitank barriers. This was extremely dangerous thing to do. Factory workers, POWs, any and everyone, came out to remove the barriers. At about that time a German-speaking woman telephoned to say that the antitank barriers needed to be removed to avoid bombing of the factories, etc. in Schwabach. So, hoping not be seen (they could have been shot) the four (deputy mayor, Brit lady, and the two American POWs) drove in a Red Cross auto to the Americans to plead their case and negotiate the “combatless delivery” of Schwabach to the Americans. Although Schwabach may have desired a combatless delivery, it was not ready to admit the American troops. Things were still dangerous for all. Indeed, a number of German soldiers were found in street ditches apparently shot because they wanted to defect and surrender.
One of the city elders said that it was a stroke of good luck and circumstances that Schwabach was not destroyed. It was to have been an aerial attack followed by artillery and then the storm of tanks on Schwabach. He said that would have meant no stone left on another in Schwabach. It surely would have happened if they had not convinced American officier that the city was ready for occupation. The two American POW and the Germans pleaded to the American officers (they met in a cellar somewhere) not to destroy Schwabach because they could take Schwabach without opposition. Negotiations first failed because German tanks were seen in Schwabach but the Americans did not know the tanks were disabled. Eventually, the German officiers, knowing it was futile, decided to surrender and let the Americans enter Schwabach. German officers were told to drive out in an open vehicle. Soon thereafter the Americans came into Schwabach.
So, Schwabach, Meine Zweite Heimat (second home), was saved from destruction!
The “Heroes of Schwabach” had a reunion back in 1961. See page 7 here:
http://www.schwabach.de/imperia/md/content/kultur/stadtarchiv/kriegsende_schwabach_1945.pdf
Tschüss!
John K
Hi there! Thanks for stopping by! We really enjoyed our short visit to Schwabach and will stop by again if we are going through that way. Thanks for all the great history info as well! That certainly adds to the charm of this neat little village 🙂