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Schwäbisch Gmünd is situated at an altitude of 327 m on the river Rems in eastern Baden-Württemberg. The first mention of "Gamundis" is found in a document of the 9th century. At some time during the reign of King Konrad III (1138–1152), it received the status of a town; the earliest document mentioning this status dates from 1162. After the end of the Staufer dynasty in 1254, the town's importance grew steadily and it finally had the status of a Free Imperial City. The town's wealth during the late middle ages and the early modern times was based on trading in textiles and wine, and on manufacturing of scythes. Silver and gold workmanship became an important economic factor from the 17th century onward. After the Peace of Lunéville (1801) and the so-called Reichsdeputationshauptschluss (1803), which reorganized the German territories, the town lost its status of Free Imperial Town and was incorporated into the Kingdom of Württemberg; at the same time, the city's name was shortened to 'Gmünd'. A new economic upswing was initiated by the opening of the Remstalbahn railway line in 1861. Gmünd recovered its position as the most prominent German silver working town during the 1890s. The district Schwäbisch Gmünd was reinstated in 1935/1938, but dissolved in 1972 when Schwäbisch Gmünd became part of the newly established district Ostalbkreis with its administrative centre Aalen.

The Johanniskirche (church of St. John the Baptist) [left] was built in 1210–1230 in Late Romanesque style in place of an older church of the 12th century. The tower, one of the most beautiful Romanesque spires in Germany, was added in 1240–1250. During the 15th century the original apse of the church was replaced by a new chancel. This Gothic chancel was itself replaced by a Neo-Romanesque apse in 1869–1880.