I’m a glass half-full kind of guy, preferring to see the good in every situation — which is why I’m always hopeful about what I’m going to find in every German town.
What I found in my glass in Kirchheim am Neckar was some pretty gosh-darn good wine. Even better since it’s located on the Württemberg Wine Route, a lovely scenic route all about the wonders of Württemberg wines.
Kirchheim’s wine making history is long, which is why you’ll find a couple of old wine presses in town. One is located in the Ortsmuseum, a local history museum that’s also got exhibits on the area’s shoe industry. The other old wine presses, by the way, are found at the Fleckenkelter and Alte Kelter (from the 1530s).
As lovely as walking around the vineyards are, I’d have to say the Kirchheim Wanderweg is great too. Found along the old Neckar River loop, there’s also a nature reserve area along the 10 km route.
What? Can you think of a better way to spend a few hours?
OK, you got me on that one if you think spending a few hours at an old castle is a good idea. Guess what? There’s one here, so do both. Except Burg Bönningheim isn’t a castle anymore, it’s a ruin of what used to be a 12th century castle.
Anything coming from the Middle Ages really isn’t that old around here, the Romans once stomped right on through. In fact, you’re awfully close to the Römerhaus in neighboring Walheim, if you don’t believe me.
While not as old as the castle and Romans, you’ll find quite a number of half-timbered houses throughout the town of Kirchheim; one of the oldest dates back almost 600 years. Yeah, that’s a long time ago, but over at the Franconian farmhouse (built 1579) they found 5th century artifacts.
Oops, I forgot to mention how Kirchheim even sits along the Neckar Valley Cycle Route, but I’d save leaving the old part of town for after you’ve seen the Romanesque/Gothic Evangelical Mauritiuskirche, the Neckartor, its Ortsarrestturm, and its Happelturm (complete with its own windowless dungeon). A historical guided tour is the best way to appreciate this kind of thing.
Who knew you could jam-pack all this wine/historical goodness into less than nine square kilometers? Forget half-full, Kirchheim’s cup is overflowing with greatness. ;-)
