Did you know Baden-Württemberg is full of history, culture, and German wine? The town of Ehrenkirchen, just 13km south of Freiburg, has no less than eight wineries offering bottles of vino for sale or sample.
Enticed to come here yet? Yeah, I thought you’d see it my way. ;-)
I joke, and good thing Ehrenkirchen doesn’t take itself too seriously. Hey, when a town throws as many festivals and events as this place does isn’t exactly the stuffed-shirt type.
One of the biggest festivals is the Fair & Village Festival in September, and the so-called Dorfhock that’s held every two years. Ehrenkirchen also hosts an annual Horse Procession, a Lawrence Market, a church patronage (August 15th), and on the last weekend of May is the Schloßgrabenhock.
Lovers of grand architecture will appreciate Ehrenkirchen for its French-styled buildings in the village of Scherzingen, built by the folks who came here during the French Revolution. Why not, considering Ehrenkirchen sits close to the French border.
You’ll also find a couple of Baroque churches, like the Pilgrimage Church of the Assumption. To fully appreciate the Baroque, go see the birthplace of Johann Christian Wentz Festinger. He was born here in 1710, going on to become one of the most noted names in Baroque and Rococo art. One of his most noted pieces was the arch he designed for Marie Antoinette.
As if walking around to all the wineries and historical buildings isn’t enough, you still got to see the countryside. The Teufelsküche (or Devil’s Kitchen) are limestone Stone Age caves (well, they’re part man/part naturally made) from around 35,000 years ago.
Look around, you’ll even find Alemannic graves that are by the Hohebannstein, a landmark that borders the Hohfirstwald. If you’re worried about getting lost in the forest, don’t sweat—guided hikes are available. If you’d rather explore on your own, there are 10 marked hiking trails for you to find your way.
Just don’t hit the wineries before you go do that, OK?