Freiberg am Neckar is nestled away north of Stuttgart in a quiet, unassuming way. It hugs the banks of the Neckar river, with sleepy tiled rooftops and lazy sloping vineyards stretching away over the hills.
Fortunately, the hills are alive… with secret treasures you won’t want to miss. :-)
The first step, of course, is to be sure you get some of the local wine. All that country beauty needs toasting and appreciating!
Furthermore, since Freiberg am Neckar is actually three smaller villages rolled into one community, you will spend a certain amount of time walking between the attractions. So it’s best to have something on hand to ease that thirst, and viticulture here is top of the line.
For appreciating the local sites, you will want to mark your map for the Amandus church, a fortified building overlooking the old town area. From your hilltop perch, you will then march down into the town zones, being sure to stop at the Schlosskelter, the Gothic church of St. Nicholas, and the Protestant chapel of St. Simon.
This covers old Europe… now out to the hills for the rest of the sights! ;-)
Freiberg am Neckar is home to the largest Chinese House and Garden in all of Europe. All of the materials were brought over from China originally, and after serving as a commercial spot a local tussle has it back open as a public venue. Sitting in the middle of the German forest, it’s quite a novelty act!
Even more novelty is available to you courtesy of Arthur Benseler. This local entrepreneur had a life-long obsession with Africa, and the 150 objects of art and sculpture at his Africa House make for an interesting museum stop.
After touring Africa and the Far East, you will then want to head for the Dragon Park. It’s an event hall that hosts musicians from around the world, with an emphasis on new world pop music and DJs.
An alternative is the Prism Center, which is the community hall and home to a roving speaker series and international musician showcase.
And just like that, you will find that at the end of the day, there’s nothing to do but raise the rest of your wine in a toast to the whole world, hidden away in the pockets of Freiberg am Neckar. Surfaces are ever deceiving in Germany, and it’s worth it here to look beyond the agricultural green front and find the treasures beneath.
