Kirchheim-Info Stadt Kirchheim unter Teck Max-Eyth-Straße 15 HISTORICAL SIGHTSEEING WALK 73230 Kirchheim unter Teck Tel.: +49 (0)7021-502-555 Email: [email protected] Kirchheim www.kirchheim-teck.de unter Teck Steeped in History - Lively and Modern Conception & Design: www.bzweic.de, Photos: Torsten Wenzler, Ernst F. Wahl, Wahl, Ernst F. Wenzler, Photos: Torsten Conception & Design: www.bzweic.de, E.Francke, Stadt Kirchheim unter Teck Museum contact details and opening times 2014 Museum contact details and opening times 2014 Steeped in History - Lively and Modern Many buildings with stories to tell and a youthful charm make the town of Kirchheim unter Teck an attractive centre of the region around Teck castle. The mainly pedestrianized lanes and alleyways are home to creative independent retailers and boutiques, eateries, museums and galleries. As a fortress and market town, Kirchheim unter Teck has a rich tradition of hospitality which lives on to the present day. With the four incorporated villages of Jesingen, Lindorf, Nabern and Ötlingen, the town currently has 40,000 inhabitants. Kirchheim unter Teck is a business hub in the heart of the metropolitan region of Stuttgart. The town has excellent transport links by road and rail. In just 15 Explore the Countryside minutes the Stuttgart trade fair and airport can Roam the gentle hills, the open orchard be reached via the motorway. meadows and forests of the Swabian Jura It is said of Swabians that discovering and foothills, or explore the countryside by refining ideas is in their blood, In Kirchheim unter bicycle. For those with sporty ambitions, Teck this is no different. Kirchheim’s medium scale the 300 metres of the Albtrauf, the sized enterprises and globally renowned escarpment of the Swabian Jura. Enjoy the corporations are known for thier prize-winning beautiful panoramic scenery of the Swabian innovations. Jura from various views. Kirchheim unter Teck is synonymous with flying. On fine weekends the Albtrauf’s excellent thermal updrafts offer extremely good gliding conditions. Pilots from all over the world gather at the Hahnweide airfield for events and competitions. 2 3 Delve into History The first evidence of human settlement in the Kirchheim area dates back more than 7000 years ago. In the 13th century Duke Konrad I von Teck granted the town charter. Thereafter, the town experienced a strong upturn. When building work began on the state fortress in 1538, an increasing number of merchants, civil servants Enjoy Life and soldiers made their way to Kirchheim. In the Great Fire of 1690, almost all the buildings Eating out in Kirchheim is easy. There is a fine were reduced to ash and rubble. Many of the range of restaurants, pubs, and take-aways half-timbered houses that can still be seen today offering Swabian specialties or international originate from the subsequent reconstruction delicacies. The alleyways are packed with the period. Kirchheim unter Teck experienced an- aroma of fresh pretzels. Complete your visit to other period of prosperity after the establish- the food market with a cappuccino at one of the ment the wool market. From 1819 onwards, the town’s independant cafés. In the evening, family town was the largest wool trading centre in the and friends meet to enjoy a freshly brewed beer. Kingdom of Württemberg. The Industrial Revolu- Kirchheim welcomes visitors from near and far to tion led to further economic growth, with many celebrate arts, food and wine at different new businesses being founded. festivals. The annual fairs, Märzenmarkt and Gallusmarkt, invite you to indulge into vivid market life. 4 5 Discover the Museums In the village of Holzmaden, a few miles east of Kirchheim unter Teck the Urweltmuseum Hauff (Museum of the Prehistoric World) invites visitors to step back in time by 180 million years and find out about land dinosaurs and dinosaurs of the Jurassic Sea. At the Kornhaus (granary), the Kirchheim mu- nicipal historic museum tells the story of the town’s past. Art exhibitions are held on a regu- lar basis at the municipal art gallery. Trace the lives of Hermann Hesse and other renowned writers at the Max-Eyth-Haus literary museum. The Fire Brigade Museum has vehicles, turn- table ladders, uniforms and many more fire service appliances on display. The historic old town is a must-see in every respect. Your are invited to find out for yourself. Tour of the historic town centre Take a walk back in time: trace the noble families of Zähringen, Teck and Württemberg and learn about our lively, youthful town and its historic walls. On the way, you will experience the hospitality of Kirchheim unter Teck: Drink a cappuccino in a traditional coffee house, stop for a Swabian snack or sample international delicatessens. The sightseeing doesn’t end when the tour is over: quite a number of shops are located in historic buildings and have magnificently integrated the old walls into their interior design. Tip Take a peek behind some of the doors with your smartphone. Find out how on page 38. 6 7 Museum contact details and opening times 2014 NUMBER 1 NUMBER 2 Martinskirche Kornhaus ‘St Martin’s Church’ ‘Granary’ The walk’s starting point is Martinskirche, consecrated to Saint Martin of Tour, like many The Kornhaus was built in the 16th century in order early churches in this area. It is assumed that to stock supplies, mainly grain, for soldiers in the the church’s origins were a 7th century wooden event of a siege of Kirchheim unter Teck state construction. This was followed by a small stone fortress. For the construction of the outside walls building that was extended to a three-nave local sandstone was used. As a result, the building basilica in the 12th century. During the 14th and was only internally destroyed by the great fire of 15th centuries St Martin’s Church most likely 1690.The Kornhaus was rebuilt to its current obtained today’s outside appearance. appearance by 1696. In the Great Town Fire the church was partly Today the Kornhaus is home to the Municipal destroyed. However, the choir and its vaulting Historical Museum and Municipal Fine Arts Gallery. remained intact. The rebuilding of the church after the Great Fire tried to achieve it’s former appearance. The Kornhaus is easily accessible with an Access can be difficult for people with mobility external ramp and internal accessible lift impairment. There is a step to the entrance, and toilet. however a ramp can be fitted. Day time contact is the Deanery (no 26) for assistance. 8 9 Museum contact details and opening times 2014 Museum contact details and opening times 2014 NUMBER 3 NUMBER 4 Max-Eyth-Haus Spital ‘Max-Eyth-Birth-Place’ ‘Hospital’ The Spital was founded in 1360 by Duke Friedrich von Teck and, thanks to several donation, rapidly grew to be the richest Spital in Württemberg. It was a charitable institution caring for elderly, sick and poor people. The Kirchheim Spital buildings comprised a whole quarter of the town, only two of them remaining to the present day. The main building of the complex dates back to 1692 and is now known as «Spital». It dates back to 1692. After the great Town Fire it served as the interim town hall. Since the 18th century the building has been mainly used From 1540 to 1909 this building served as a for educational purposes. Since 1974 the grammar school and was one of the few to Volkshochschule (adult education centre) has survive the Great Town Fire of 1690. been based here. In 1836 Max Eyth was born here, his father being the director of the grammar school at the time. Max Eyth was a well known German writer and engineer, who contributed to the development of the first steam plough at John Fowler’s of Leeds, England. Today the house is the seat of the Municipal Literary Museum and of the Kirchheim Tourist Information. Wheelchair accessible via ramp. No wheelchair access. Automatic entrance doors. No lift and steep stairs. 10 11 Museum contact details and opening times 2014 Museum contact details and opening times 2014 NUMBER 5 NUMBER 6 Krautmarkt – Gänsemarkt - Alleenring Stadthalle, Teckcenter und Postplatz ‘Cabbage Market – ‘Municipal Festivity Hall, Teckcenter Geese Market – Allenring’ shopping precinct and Post Office Square’ The market rights of From 1864 to 1975 post office square was Kirchheim unter Teck dates Kirchheim station square. Following the back to the 11th century. demolition of the station buildings the Different goods were sold at Teckcenter was built to house the municipal different market places in festivity hall, a shopping precinct and a large town. At the beginning of car park. the 19th century the cabbage The topic of rail travel is echoed in the market (Krautmarkt) found its place on the edge abstract artworks on the stairways and in the of the town centre due to the cabbages´ strong foyer of the festivity hall. odour. Today at the Krautmarkt there is an The new station on the edge of today’s town underground parking garage and the building centre was opened in 1975. Kirchheim unter houses the public library. Teck has been part of Stuttgart’s public rail Next to the Krautmarkt was the Gänsemarkt network since 2009. – geese market, and there were special markets for wood, straw, pottery, cattle, horses, pigs and wool and of course victuals. The Alleenring - a ring road around the town centre - also came into being after the demolition of the town walls. Chestnut trees were planted along the road, thus making Kirchheim unter Teck known as the «Kastanienstadt» (chestnut town). Accessible toilet with level access. Wheelchair access to the shopping The doors in the carpark are not automatic, precinct and festivity hall.