Lorch is a small town in the Ostalbkreis district, in Baden-Württemberg, Germany, by the river Rems, 8 kilometers west of Schwäbisch Gmünd.

Lorch is part of the Swabian-Franconian Forest Nature Park and is located at the Limes hiking route (HW 6) of the Swabian Alp Association.

[4] The Roman Empire expanded its sphere of control to the north of the Alps into the borders of modern-day Switzerland, southern Germany and Austria under Emperor Augustus in the year 15 B.C.

When they advanced past the Danube and Rhine rivers about 100 years later, they took control of the so-called "Dekumatenland," which included the territory of modern-day Lorch.

The new Limes lines met in what is called a "Limesknie" ("bend — literally, 'knee' — in the fortified Roman border") between modern-day Lorch and Schwäbisch Gmünd.

A civilian settlement (vicus), which stretched on for about one kilometre at its largest point, was connected to the fort along the Roman arterial road running through the Remstal.

The Roman name of what would later be Lorch is uncertain, though Lauriacum is commonly suggested due to its usage during medieval times as well as the existence of an Austrian town of the same name that is known to have been referred to as such.

[5] During the mid-11th century, a "Kollegiatstift", a collegial chapter, was founded at the parish church located in the village of Lorch, where the ancestors of the Staufer family were laid to rest.

During the 12th century, the town is mentioned in various documents under the name of both Lorchia and Lorche, as well as the Latin Laureacus, with the monastery referred to as Laureacum monasterium.

Towards the end of the Middle Ages, the town had gained the "Marktrecht", literally market right—the right to hold a weekly or annual market—and had a court as well as a bath house.

In addition to efforts from the city council, a "Verschönerungsclub" (literally: embellishment or beautification club) promoted tourism and Lorch became a popular health resort.

[10] A possible reason for these results is the high unemployment rate, caused by the Daiber factory, still the city's largest employer, closing down due to a fire a few years prior.

[11] While there is no record of Jews living in or around Lorch, a number of disabled people from the area are known to have fallen victim to the Nazis racial ideology at the Tötungsanstalt Grafeneck.

[13] Thanks to the mayor, in co-operation with the local NS elite, preventing the planned defense through the Volkssturm from occurring, the Americans were greeted with a white flag at the Lorch monastery.

[15] On 17 December 1945, the former mayor Wilhelm Scheufele, who had held the office since 1910, was dismissed by the occupying forces and replaced with Theo Lauder until Otto Bareiß took over the position in April 1946, having been elected by the new community council.

In 1885, the local beautification association laid out a footpath through this valley surrounded by sandstone rocks; since probably before 1932, water games have been set up there on a length of 500 metres during the summer months, driven by the flowing stream.