Bavaria is rich in myths and legends, such as the Dragon of Murnau or the haunting Captain at the Jungfernturm. The story of the mysterious Kaspar Hauser also raises questions to this day. For a long time, he lived in Ansbach, where you can find his monument today and follow in his footsteps. But this Middle Franconian town has even more to offer, such as the impressive Residenz with its Orangery. You’ll discover all this and more on your day trip.
The Mysterious Boy with No Known Origins
In May 1828, a boy named Kaspar Hauser, about 16 years old, appeared in Nuremberg. He claimed to be from Regensburg and to have spent his entire life up to that point living on bread and water in a dark room. Rumors quickly spread that he might be descended from a noble family from which he had been cast out. In 1831, the English Lord Philip Henry Earl Stanhope obtained guardianship of Kaspar and placed him under the care of a tutor in Ansbach.
There he moved in high society circles, where he was very popular due to his charm. Two years after arriving in the city, Kaspar died from a stab wound allegedly inflicted by an unknown assailant in the Ansbach Court Garden. However, doctors were divided on whether the stab wound was truly caused by an external force or whether Kaspar might have inflicted it upon himself . He was buried with great public sympathy at the city cemetery, where his tomb can still be found today. Engraved upon it are the words: “Here lies Kaspar Hauser, enigma of his time, origin unknown, death mysterious, 1833.”
In the Hofgarten, you can visit the monument, which also alludes to Hauser’s mysterious story. To this day, doubts remain about his accounts and his identity. The theory that he came from a noble family has been refuted by several DNA analyses. Nevertheless, the myth of Kaspar Hauser continues to fascinate. On the ground floor of the Margrave Museum in Ansbach, you’ll find the Kaspar Hauser section, which houses the world’s largest collection dedicated to this enigmatic figure.
The Rococo City of Ansbach
But Ansbach isn’t just the ideal destination for fans of the Kaspar Hauser theories. The small town in Middle Franconia has much more to offer. The Residenz is an impressive Renaissance building that evolved from a medieval complex. The Gothic hall, which now serves as an event venue and can be booked by you, bears witness to this. It also houses the largest collection of faience from the former Ansbach porcelain manufactory. For 150 years, this manufactory was known for its Rococo figurines and tableware featuring the Berlin pattern.
In the ballroom of the Residence, you can admire the ceiling fresco by the Lombard painter Carlo Carlone, and in the Hall of Mirrors, a collection of Meissen porcelain. In the Tiled Hall, you’ll find 2,800 ceramic tiles, and in the Picture Gallery, you’ll discover more Rococo works. Adjacent to the Residenz is the Hofgarten, a beautiful Baroque garden with its own orangery. The Ansbach Bach Weeks are held here regularly, and you can enjoy drinks and treats at the café.
In downtown Ansbach, you can admire St. Gumbertus Church, whose blend of architectural styles reflects the town’s long history. Inside is Franconia’s largest Baroque organ, on which concerts are, of course, performed. The cityscape is characterized by half-timbered buildings and Rococo townhouses, such as the “Schwarzer Bock” inn. The oldest part of the former city fortifications is the Herrenrieder Gate, which was rebuilt in the Baroque style in the 16th century. Ansbach is also rich in sculptures, which you can discover on a sculpture tour.
