Dukes of Swabia
Württemberg was a unified state for most of its history, in stark contrast to the rest of Swabia. The differences only become more apparent as the region was largely Protestant and bound to the Rhineland by the Neckar. This Rhenish-Swabian cultural fusion makes Württemberg one of the most unique places in Germany.
- The unique open-gable half-timbered architecture of the Neckar Valley
- The language of power in the Baroque Architecture of the Duchy
- Complex Gothic vaulting and sculpture work from the late medieval period
Württemberg was a powerful state drawn along the Neckar Valley. While it would reach its golden age in the 19th century, its history stretches back to the earliest periods of the Middle Ages. Here you will find countless places worthy of your time.
The two things differentiating Württemberg from the rest of Swabia are culture and geography. The first is the Protestant faith adopted by both the Duchy of Württemberg and the Free Cities in Swabia. To the South and East, the Catholic faith predominates. The second is the Neckar River binding the region with the Rhine Valley rather than with the Danube, shaping the region’s industrial potential.
Without a doubt, Württemberg possesses one of the richest historical landscapes in Germany. Almost every village and town is spectacular, and on every hill, you will find a castle or monastery. In the North are the isolated hills of the Hohenlohe region. Through the central valley cuts the Neckar and its tributaries. In the South, the Black Forest grows ever thicker.
Hike: Besigheim Vineyards
The town of Besigheim sits on an outcrop above the Neckar River. Both the town and the surrounding vineyards are the feature of this hike.…
Hiking: The Gardens of Solitude
This hike is more of a guided walk through the forests and gardens of the summer hunting palace of Solitude. This palace was the retreat…
Hiking: The Old Mills of Stuttgart
Mills were a common sight in the pre-modern landscape of Europe. During the late 19th century, many were industrialized. By the end of the 20th…
Hiking: Hohenneuffen Panorama
The castle of Hohenneuffen is an ancient fortress of the Württemberg state. Today there is very little surviving of the castle other than the foundations.…
Hiking: The Monks of Bebenhausen
This is a simple walk around the ancient territory of the Bebenhausen Monastery. In the Middle Ages, the monasteries held great territories which supported the…
Hiking: Castle Liebenzell and the Monbachtal
On the edge of the Black Forest, as it slowly turns into the cultivated highlands of Württemberg, is a small stream, the Monbach. The stream…
- Hype: 2.3
- Growth: 3.1
- Wealth: 9.0
- Recognition: 4.0
- Accommodation: 4.6
- Transportation: 5.0
- Ease of Planning: 6.7
- Infrastructure: 7.1
- Interactivity: 4.0
- Airport: Yes
- Historical Context: 1.6
- Monuments: 7.0
- Quality*: 10
- Landscape: 6.2
- Vineyards: 6.5
- Undiscovered: 1.8
- Cultural Immersion: 6.0
- Tradition*: 10
