City and surroundings
Find out more about the historic city and its surroundings
History of the city
In the Middle Ages, Besigheim's idyllic townscape played a subordinate role - the town's strategic military importance was paramount. In 1220, the margraves of Baden built their fortress here with two fortifications to the south and north. From the 15th century, Besigheim saw the development of viticulture, crafts and rafting. It was during this period that the town took on its present appearance: The church, town hall and municipal houses are built. In 1556, the town's inhabitants adopted the Protestant faith, and in the first half of the 17th century, Germany was engulfed by the Thirty Years' War (16181648), which consolidated its fragmentation. In the 19th century, the town was given administrative powers and an independent court. Inevitably, the greatest catastrophes of the 20th century - the world wars - are on the horizon.
Nevertheless, Besigheim awakened to new life in the 1950s: the destroyed architectural monuments were actively rebuilt, and new buildings were added – right up to the present day.
Places of interest
The center of Besigheim is under the protection of the state. The valuable historical monuments - the town hall and the market square with its fountain - offer visitors to the town one of the best-preserved medieval views in southern Germany.
The town's most important sights are the two medieval towers, the Schochenturm and the Waldhornturm, built as early as 1220. The Schochenturm, with a height of 31 meters, was named in honor of one of the castle guards, Schoch. The second tower – the Waldhornturm – takes its name from the adjacent "Waldhorn" inn, on whose upper floor the entrance to the tower was formerly located.
The municipal church, built in the second half of the 14th century, is a true gem of Besigheim. The residents are proud of its 13-meter-high linden wood altar, erected by Christoph Urach in 1520.
The "Stadthalle" (town hall) in the center is another place no visitor to Besigheim should miss. In the past, the building served a practical purpose: it housed special equipment for grape pressing. The building's historically important elements have been preserved to this day, including the cellars with huge wooden barrels for wine storage, but today this building is used as a venue for various events, celebrations, and festivals.
The surroundings of Besigheim
For tourists who want to explore the surrounding area, it is also worth visiting other towns in the immediate vicinity of Besigheim. Bietigheim-Bissingen is best known for its picture gallery with wonderful exhibitions of both classical and contemporary modern art.
Hospitable Stuttgart
Besigheim's proximity to Stuttgart makes a trip to the state capital an absolute must. The main attractions of Germany's sixth-largest city include the Old Castle, the Wilhelma Botanical Garden, the State Picture Gallery, and, of course, the Mercedes-Benz Museum—an unlikely architectural solution by the architectural team UNStudio.
Ludwigsburg and the famous baroque palace
The city of Ludwigsburg is not far from Stuttgart. Lovers of Baroque architecture will be interested in Ludwigsburg Palace - it is one of the largest palace complexes of its kind in Europe. It is home to one of the oldest and most beautiful permanent exhibitions of horticultural art. Every year it is visited by more than 500 thousand visitors from all over the world.
Activities
The region around Besigheim offers a variety of activities.
Cycling along the river
Fans of active recreation will undoubtedly be delighted by the cycle tours that can be undertaken here along specially designed routes. Along the way, you will see fabulously beautiful landscapes, vineyards and the memorable historical sites of the Neckar and Enz valleys.
Excursions on the water: canoe and riverboat
Those who wish can enjoy the beauty of the Neckar and Enz rivers on a canoe trip. Newcomers are given an introductory course in the theory and practice of steering this watercraft. If a canoe tour is not in your plans, but you still don't want to miss out on the romantic views of the river valleys, you can always take a boat trip from Besigheim to Heilbronn or Marbach
Amusement park and zoo
The best place for active recreation with children is the “Tripsdril” amusement park. More than 100 original themed attractions await you there, which will amaze not only the children but also their parents.
An added bonus is a visit to the zoo, where the animals aren't confined in cages but can roam freely on a 47-hectare fenced-in area. Visitor favorites include polar dogs, wild cats, lynx, bears, and foxes.
The pools of „Mineralfreibad“
The open swimming complex “Mineralfreibad” in Besigheim offers relaxation by the water. This includes the main swimming pool, the pool for beginners, the children's pool, the water diving tower, a play area, a restaurant and much more. The complex is open to visitors from May to September.
Tours for tourists - all year round
Throughout the year, the city offers tours for visitors with something for everyone. The themes of these tours cover different aspects of life in the town - from visits to the classic historical squares to tours with very special lectures on half-timbered houses, painting and even the development of industry in the town. The so-called “Path of Sculptures”, which has been running since 2003, deserves special mention here. The trail begins at the train station, along the River Enz, leads through the town center and ends at the hydroelectric power station on the Neckar. More than 20 sculptural compositions in the modernist style, created by artists from the region, can be found along this path.
events
Besigheim regularly hosts events that are worth a visit.
Markets
Besigheim also frequently hosts small markets (book markets, flea markets, flower markets) in which the retailers take part. Every Saturday from 7 a.m. to 12 p.m. is market day in the heart of the town - from May to October even with musical accompaniment by local groups.
Wine festival
The most important event in Besigheim is of course the wine-making festival, the “Winzerfest”. It takes place every two years on the third weekend in September from Friday to Monday. The highlight of the festival is the historical parade on Sunday afternoon: more than 60 group participants, dressed in historical costumes, give the festival the atmosphere of past centuries.