A town that celebrates viticulture is all right in my eyes. Viticulture? That’s wine making; and many of us don’t have a clue how the drink of the Gods is made. All we know is it tastes awfully good.
More than 60% of the grapes grown in Leingarten are made into red wine. I hope you don’t mind me enjoying a glass of it while I write this. Oh, this would be good with a steak.
You’ll work up the appetite, too, when you’re visiting Leingarten. There’s more than 7,000 years of history to see, going back to the Stone Age. Only the name was different before 1970 when the villages of Großgartach and Schluchtern were united.
Whatever name it chooses to use, the town’s Lorenz Church is one of its most visited places. It’s 1913 birthday belies the fact the church is really much older. Parts of the outlying cemetery date to around 1577 if that’s any indication of how much older.
St. Pankratius is another grand religious site to see, as is the remainder of Leingarten’s synagogue that ceased to exist after the early 1940’s.
While you’re out navigating your way around the town’s streets you’ll be passing many sculpture works of art. With names like Europe & the Bull, Utopia in Stone, and History & Presence you’ll find the themes are varied and unique. Quite like the residents of Leingarten themselves.
The Gassenfescht (that’s slang) on the last weekend in June is a superb way of meeting these local residents. Just as the Kids Flea Market and Homeland Celebration (which is held every three years in the Autumn, these festivals are a spectacular success!
You won’t find Leingarten to be a big city by any stretch of the imagination; but, if you want to find something a bit more remote look no further than the outlying forest. The Württemberger Weinstraße, a tourist route that highlights the best of Leingarten and the surrounding region, is a must-explore when you’re here.
The Heuchelberger Warte is one of the best ways to see the area. Built more than 600 years ago, this observation tower is a great stop no matter the weather; although, it’s really popular when the weather’s nice.
If the weather’s a bit cold, a nice glass of a local wine will warm you up. Don’t forget the steak! ;-)
