The market town of Burgwindheim is a popular pilgrimage site. Burgwindheim and its ten affiliated villages are embedded in the nature of the central Steigerwald forest. The market rights were granted to the town in 1363 and it is therefore the oldest market town in the entire Steigerwald. After a Host miracle during the Corpus Christi procession one hundred years later, Burgwindheim’s relevance as a pilgrimage site began and the chapel “Zum Heiligen Blut” was erected in 1597. Until today, this traditional church festival is an impressive highlight throughout the region.
The Baroque castle was built between 1720 and 1728 as the former courtyard of the neighbouring Cistercian monastery, expressing the cultural and economic importance of the place. The parsonage and staircase of the Baroque castle can be visited by appointment. The castle itself can also be booked for events.
The former Thurn and Taxis post office, the Richterhaus (Judges’ house), the parish church of St. Jakobus, the Blood Fountain and many stately town houses, almost unchanged, characterise the impressive appearance of the core village of Burgwindheim. There are many opportunities for hiking in the Steigerwald Nature Park starting from Burgwindheim and any one of its affiliated villages. There are also plenty of opportunities for cycling along the well-developed cycle paths.
