The first written records of Herzogenaurach date back to 1002 and 1021. King Heinrich II donated one of his crown properties to the Bamberg church. The area was first called „URAHA“. During the first half of the 14^th century the settlement was renamed „Herzogenaurach“ to differentiate it from other settlements.

Towards the end of the Middle Ages the administrative buildings were enclosed by four seperate ramparts and moats. Today two impressive towers, the „Fehnturm“ to the east and the „Türmersturm“ to the west, and a few remains of the middle age town walls still provide evidence of Herzogenaurach’s history.

The counts of Nuremberg and Ansbach fought out their quarrels in 1449 and 1553 on the back of the people of Herzogenaurach. During the Thirty Years' War Swedish troups did not leave the town unscathed either.

Baroque castle
Built around 1720 at the request of Prince-Bishop Lothar Franz von Schönborn, it was used by the officials of Herzogenaurach as a residence and administration centre.Today it houses the town council.

Half-Timbered Houses
In earlier centuries only the more prosperous inhabitants could afford to build houses of stone. Most houses were therefore built of timber with walls of clay and wickerwork. The oldest of these half-timbered houses date back to the second half of the 15^th century. Typical for Franconian farm tenancies arealso the wide yard entrances through which one reaches the set-back farm building. Oftena dormer on the street side served to receive deliveries.

Old Town Hall - Market Place
In earlier days, the town hall was the centre of town life. In the late Middle Ages and afterwards it was used by the bakers and butchers of the town as a market hall. After housing the police for about thirty years and repeated reconstruction work, it was completely renovated in 2005 and is now home to a restaurant

Church and Church Square
The catholic parish church "St. Magdalena" was built in Gothic style. Experts rate the colourfull vaults as the most beautiful in Franconia. The altar is of Baroque origin. The most significant statues are those of the church patrons and diocese saints (Heinrich and Kunigunde) as well as those of the Holy Sebastian and the „Beautiful Madonna with child“.

Poor house
The poor house owes its existence to a gift made by the rich cloth merchant Cuntz Reyther from Niederndorf. From 1509 on it was home to six needy citizens of Herzogenaurach. Today it houses a museum.

  Air Base 1934 - 1945