The town of Boxberg (Baden) started out simple enough, just your average Merovingian town of the 7th century. What it has become is a little town with twelve districts and around 7,000 people, not all that far from Tauberbischofsheim (around 16km north).
No self respecting town this old in Germany would be without its precious castle. Albeit a ruined one in this case.
Burg Boxberg’s ruins that you see before you had been built in 1430, but an older one stood here from the 11th century. Yes, that means it was built in the 1000’s, making it a thousand years old.
Burg Boxberg was destroyed in 1523, but you can still see part of its tower and the entrance to its cellar. Hey, it ain’t a palace, but castle ruins are particularly romantic — if you look at them in the right frame of mind, that is. ;-)
And of course, no self respecting medieval town is going to be without a church (or two, maybe three). In the village of Unterschüpf there’s a wonderful church from the 13th century with amazing 15th century frescoes.
In Oberschüpf, the fortress church has been here since the 12th century; and the St. John Lutheran Church in Wölchingen was built in 1220.
What’s the big deal about seeing these old churches? Well, religion was so vital to daily life — and people put their heart & soul into decorating them — making them smashing works of art.
As great as the churches are, you don’t want to be stuck indoors the whole time you’re here. How ’bout a Vineyard Tour to liven things up? All those wine growing grapes sure are pretty.
Oh, I know, go to the Waldseilgarten — a rope climbing obstacle course.
Too much work? I understand, so I’ll tell you to go to the Alte Rathaus (Old Town Hall, built 1610) instead. It might have once been the center of Boxberg’s town business, but it is now a Local History Museum with all kinds of weapons and art exhibits.
Boxberg in Baden might’ve started simple enough, but from the looks of it — it’s always been fabulous.
