We visited this WHS in June 2025 and were pleasantly surprised, especially considering the generally reserved tone of previous visitors. Admittedly, the Abbey and Altenmünster of Lorsch are not among Germany's most unique or impressive World Heritage Sites. Yet, we enjoyed our stay, mainly because of the charming town of Lorsch itself and the enthusiasm of our tour guide. As previous community members have already described the site well, I would like to focus on some practical tips for visiting.

Getting to Lorsch

As already suggested, the city of Mannheim is a good choice for a base, not only for Lorsch but also for other World Heritage Sites in the area. If you have the "Deutschlandticket" (a monthly subscription ticket that allows you to use all regional transportation in Germany), travel on all regional express trains is included, making it easy to reach various sites from Mannheim. Depending on your travel plans, it may actually be cheaper to purchase this ticket. Just remember to cancel the subscription before it auto-renews. Lorsch is about one hour from Mannheim by public transportation, and the main building of the Abbey can be easily reached on foot.

Tips for the visit

Based on our experience, the following tips may help you make the most of your visit:

• The Altenmünster itself is located further outside of town, although you can easily combine visits to both sites. If you are pressed for time, feel free to skip the Altenmünster, as there is not much left to see. However, if you have the time, it is worth planning a visit to the nearby Lauresham Laboratory for Experimental Archaeology. This reconstructed Carolingian manorial site offers insights into daily life during the Abbey’s founding period and allows visitors to explore the latest findings about agriculture, husbandry, and everyday life from that era.
• If possible, participate in a guided tour, which is unfortunately only available in German at the moment. We greatly enjoyed the tour and the insights it provided, and were lucky to have a passionate and knowledgeable guide. The tour also allows you to enter the interior of the gatehouse, where you can see some fascinating wall decorations. Additionally, the tour helped us better understand the significance of several findings displayed in a nearby barn that serves as an exhibition space.
• We can also recommend a visit to the museum near the Abbey. Unfortunately, most of the information is only available in German, but apps like Google Lens can help with translations. In addition to learning about the Abbey’s history and the archaeological excavations, you can discover the region’s tobacco culture and marvel at the largest functional pipe ever built.
• Apart from that, you are free to explore the Abbey grounds on your own, as the area is generally open to the public. The main exceptions are the interior of the gatehouse (which can only be visited with a guided tour) and the exhibition/museum rooms.