What happens when you find the perfect marriage of history and culture, centrally located between Karlsruhe, Heidelberg, and Mannheim? You get to Östringen, a town of four villages in Baden-Württemberg that also lies between the Black Forest and the Odenwald, within the alluring Kraichgau.
When you’ve got as much going on as Östringen you might not know where to start or what to see. With each village offering something for everyone, take your time getting to know each one on its own.
The best place to start is probably the Local History Museum in the village of Östringen proper. The museum itself, located within the Altes Rathaus, is a piece of the town’s 19th century history. Also within Östringen is the beautiful St. Cäcilia Catholic Church, and the Gustav Wolf Art Gallery, both filled with some amazing artwork from different centuries.
Östringen also plays host to a few festivals and parties throughout the year. The first weekend of July brings on the Summer Festival, while November is when Östringen’s Kerwe Festival is held. Mid-September is when you can party for Östringen’s Oktoberfest, mostly associated with beer.
But, interestingly enough — this is wine country and there are a few local wineries around the village of Eichelberg. Here’s your chance to enjoy a locally grown German wine.
There are a few other sites around Eichelberg, too. Don’t miss the village’s City Hall, where today’s building is directly on top of the original foundations from 1604. There is also the Village Well and St. Michael’s Chapel. Both make some great photos to take home with you.
Tiefenbach is one of the smaller villages and it is (and, it isn’t) your average German village. But, once every two years the town pulls out all the stops for its Village Celebration. Any other time, it’s where you’ll enjoy getting outdoors at what is known as Kreuzbergsee (Cross Mountain Lake).
When you visit Odenheim, come for the town’s annual Fair, held on the 2nd weekend in October, or the many balls held during Mardi Gras (February). Odenheim also has a yearly Castle Celebration that’s held on the first weekend in August. But, a stop to the lovely Baroque St. Michael’s Church is a must, no matter your reason for visiting.
Even with all there is to see in Östringen, there’s still more. The countryside is more than idyllic and the walking and biking trails will take you through the best of it.
Actually, Östringen is a diamond in the Kraichgau, so try not to miss a thing of it. :-)
