Kloster Lorch — Concerts and Events 2026

The Staufer Burial Place as a Concert Venue

Kloster Lorch was founded in 1102 by the Swabian Duke Friedrich I of the Staufer dynasty and developed into the burial place of the Staufer dynasty. Today, it is recognized as a World Heritage candidate and is among the region's outstanding sacred buildings. The monastery overlooks the Remstal valley from an unusually open hillside location — the 12th-century monastery church shapes the silhouette and provides an exceptional acoustic and visual stage for classical concerts.

Concert Highlights 2026 — June 7th and 14th

The first concert highlight of 2026 is on Sunday, June 7th, with the concert 'Harp Sounds in the Monastery Church'. Complementing this, a family tour of the monastery takes place on the same day at 1:30 PM — a concept that combines concert and education in one day. On Sunday, June 14th, a workshop-concert day focusing on Gregorian chant follows: a workshop for singers during the day, and at 7 PM, a concert with Ensemble Nusmido in the monastery church. These two Sundays form the musical heart of the 2026 season.

Group Tours, Themed Tours, and Family Program

Alongside the concert program, group tours run in May and June — allowing individual visitors to join a monastery tour without prior registration. Themed tours focus on Staufer history, remarkable women in monastic history, and medieval life. A special family tour on June 7th accompanies the 'Harp Sounds' concert.

Opening Hours and Operations

The site opens during the season on Fridays and Saturdays from 5 PM to 9 PM, and Sundays from 11 AM to 9 PM. During these hours, the historical rooms, the monastery church, and the gardens are accessible. Catering, a children's program, and weddings complement the tourist offerings.

State Palaces and Gardens of Baden-Württemberg

Kloster Lorch is managed by the State Palaces and Gardens of Baden-Württemberg — the same authority that oversees Heidelberg Castle, Ludwigsburg Palace, Mannheim Residential Palace, and many other monumental heritage sites. This management ensures high-quality programming and concerts, in line with the conservation requirements for the World Heritage candidacy.

Lorch in the Ostalb District

Lorch is located in the Ostalb district between Schwäbisch Gmünd and Welzheim, at the transition from the Remstal valley to the Welzheimer Wald forest. With around 11,000 inhabitants, Lorch is a typical small East Alemannic town — characterized by the World Heritage candidate monastery, an active club scene, and tourism centered around the Staufer sites. A concert visit can be well combined with hikes in the Welzheimer Wald or a day trip to nearby Schwäbisch Gmünd.