SIGHTSEEING 1 Evangelische Stadtkirche/Town church: Evangelical municipal church Welcome to Bad Wimpfen built between 13th and 16th centuries. Highly decorative interior inclu- ding late medieval side-winged altars, mural paintings, Lutheran confes- An eventful history, healing brine baths and the pleasures of the local cuisine all serve to make a visit to Bad Wimp- sional and a 14th century pieta. fen into an adventure. On foot, by bike or by boat – you can enjoy views of the impressive silhouette of the Staufer Palatinate from various vantage points. Our guides will take you on an exciting journey of discovery through the 2 Blauer Turm/Blue Tower: The symbolic landmark of Bad Wimpfen. most beautiful corners of the old town, historic half-timbered buildings, decorative gardens and picturesque alleys. Built around 1170 as western Imperial Palace tower it was used until Take it slow. So many details to spot – carpe momentum - feel the past and enjoy the present, relax and take a well into the nineteenth century as a watchtower, completing what was breather. You can combine your trip with a bike tour on river cycle paths along the Neckar-, Kocher-Jagst- or on probably the oldest continuous tradition of tower wardens in Germany. the Salt & Brine-Cycle Path. Or maybe you’d prefer to take a hike on the Neckarsteig or explore the River Neckar Currently closed due to renovation! on a boat trip. This really is a great area for cycling and hiking! We look forward to your visit and wish you an unforgettable stay in Bad Wimpfen. 3 Rathaus/Town Hall: A neoclassical building dating from 1839 and re- placing a late medieval half-timbered structure with an external flight of Information - Contact steps. Former premises of the imperial town council and law-courts. Tourist Information Bad Wimpfen | Hauptstraße 45 | 74206 Bad Wimpfen 4 Steinhaus/Stone House: Probably originally the women´s apartments Tel.: +49 7063 9720-0 | Fax: +49 7063 9720-20 in the Staufer palace, it is the largest Romanesque secular building in E-Mail: [email protected] | Internet: www.badwimpfen.de Germany. Late Gothic stepped gable and seven-sectional window. 5 Pfalzkapelle/Palace Chapel: Dedicated to St. Nicholas with imperial gallery. Converted in 1837 into a farmhouse with a barn and stables, 2 the building was restored to its original state after 1908. 1 4 6 Roter Turm/Red Tower: The keep on the east side of the Staufer Imperial Palace. As this would have been the last refuge of the lord of the castle it 3 5 was lavishly equipped (Romanesque fireplace, sanitary fittings). 7 Schwibbogengasse: One of the most picturesque alleys. 7 6 8 Altes Spital/Former Civic Hospital: A stone building dating from the 8 first half of the 13th century with 15th century Alemannic half-timbered annexes. The building now houses the Bad Wimpfen Imperial Town Museum. The Tourist Information and Municipal Cultural Centre as well 9 as the City Galery are situated on the ground floor. 9 Dominikanerkirche/Former Dominican Church – now Catholic 10 Church of Holy Cross: Dominican monastery was founded in 1269 and a Gothic church, added after 1300, was subsequently rebuilt in 1713 in Baroque style. The monastery building and cloisters are now a grammar school. 10 Wimpfen in the valley: Knights Collegiate Church an Cloister, now used by the Malteser Cross for accommodation, retreats and seminars, and the Cornelia Church. 1 Catholic Parish Church of the Holy Cross/ MUSEUMS & CHURCHES former Dominican Church Evangelical Municipal Church, Marktplatz A Dominican monastery was founded in 1269 and a Gothic Built between the 13th and 16th centuries as a parish church church, added after 1300, was subsequently rebuilt in 1713 in on the site of a previous church predating Staufer times. Highly Baroque style. The monastery was dissolved following secula- decorative interior including late medieval triptych altar, mural rization in 1818. The church is an important place of pilgrimage YOUR STAY IN BAD WIMPFEN paintings, Lutheran confessional and a 14th century pieta. (fragment of the Cross). Explore with the help of our little English guide booklet available In the interior: a frieze with the armorial bearing of various be- at the tourist information office, or book a guided tour: Opening Times from April to October: nefactors, gravestones of Engelhard von Weinsberg and Anna Fr, Sa & Su 10-12am, 14-17pm von Ehrenberg (15th century), a Late Gothic crucifixion group Public guided tours and an Ehrlich Organ. The monastery building and cloisters are Public tours in German run from April to October every Wed- now a grammar school. nesday/Sunday at 2 pm, Saturdays at 11 am. You can take Historical Museum in the « Steinhaus » , Burgviertel 23 part in the tour starting in front of the town hall and pay the guide It is a Romanesque secular structure of the Staufer Palatinate. Open daily directly. Advance booking is not necessary. During the season There are relicts from the Neolithic and Roman ages. It con- we offer special themed tours, such as evening tours with the centrates on the history of the Museum in the Old Hospital, Hauptstraße 45 night watchman. Palatinate, the Hohenstaufen You can find a calendar of guided tours here. and the medieval arts of cera- Former Holy Ghost Spital; hospital building from the late Middle mics and masonry. Ages with a stone building from the 13th century with original pieces. In the old hospital the free imperial city history of Bad Private guided tour You can arrange a private tour according to your personal in- Opening times from Easter Wimpfen is visualized. Focal points are rights of the city, territory, guilds and crafts and the battle near Bad Wimpfen. It also has a terests with our tourism experts. Just let us know your require- until the second Weekend in ments under: [email protected] October: large model of the town. Tue-Sun 10-12am and 2-4:30 Group trips/All inclusive packages pm (Monday closed) We can organize your stay according to your personal needs and interests, be it for singles, couples, families or larger groups. Tickets Enjoy our wide range of offers, e.g. visit to the herbalist, monastery Adults 2,50 €, students/spa and beer culture, medieval games, wine tours and tastings, boat guests/handicapped persons 2,00 €, school classes 0,50 € trips, tours by horsedrawn wagons, excursions around the whole region Heilbronner Land as far as Heidelberg. Museum in the Palatinate Chapel, Burgviertel 25 The museum of church history is in the former chapel St. Niko- Special offer: famous Bad Wimpfen Christmas Market laus. It includes collections of the history of the church such as • Collection at the bus park and guided tour of the historic liturgical vessels, clothes and epitaphs. old town; guided walking tour through Bad Wimpfen during which the participants also learn about customs Opening times from Easter until the second Weekend in Octo- Opening times and practices at Advent and Christmas Time in Germany ber: Tue-Sun 10-12 am and 2-4:30 pm (Monday closed) Mon-Sun 10 –12 am and 2 - 5 pm • Visit to the herbalist in the fairytale tower and liqueur tasting Tickets Tickets • Bad Wimpfen Christmas Market mug Adults 2,00 €, students/spa guests/handicapped persons Adults 2,50 €, spa guests 2,00 €, children/students (6-16 Y.) • Voucher for a mug of mulled wine 1,50 €, school classes 0,50 € 1,50 €, school classes 0,50 € • Stroll around the Christmas market and crib exhibition • Price per Person: 19 Euro 2 A BRIEF HISTORY 1981 The whole of the historic town is classified as a Zunftmarkt/Traditional Crafts Guild Market OF BAD WIMPFEN collection of protected listed buildings. On the last weekend in August handicrafts from the Middle Ages 2009 Malteser Order takes over the Monastery of make an appearance in Bad Wimpfen in the tradition of the ear- The town of Wimpfen deve- Bad Wimpfen lier pottery markets. Visitors enjoy the Crafts Guild Market with loped near the Neckar cros- 2 019 Restauration of the thermal baths and the Blue its different forms of handicrafts, sing of an ancient travelling Tower dancing and music. route which led from Wimp- You can admire the numerous fen in a westerly direction EVENTS artistic craftsmen such as wood through the Kraichgau area experts, brush makers, wea- Lange KunstNacht/Long Night of the Arts to Speyer and onwards to vers and “Swindlers – Fortune Late night opening of all museums and churches, street theatre. France. Known as the „Hohe Tellers”. But not only the old Music fills the old town and galleries invite you to marvel. Straße“ it also led in an handicrafts are enticing… Be- easterly direction through sides the street artists such as Nuremberg and Eger to Talmarkt/Valley Market jugglers, clowns, dancers etc., Prague and in south-easterly The festival out of which the Tal- the impression of a bustling direction to Vienna. markt developed was original- and colourful medieval town ly of a religious nature. Thus St. is intensifed by strange looking 450 ad Celctic traces in the region Peter’s Church in Wimpfen in “dirty beggars”. Vers 85 The Romans build a fort with a bridge across the the Valley came to have mar- river Neckar. ket rights; streams of pilgrims Vers 1160/ Emperor Frederick I „Barbarossa“ builds the Ro- attending the Patron Festival of Weihnachtsmarkt /Old German Christmas Market 117 0 yal Palace. During Staufer times, Wimpfen is an St. Peter and the connected The traditional Christmas market is one of the oldest and most important centre of the Staufer dynasty´s power trade more than a thousand beautiful in Germany.