As the name implies Weinsberg is a wine making town in a mountainous, vineyardish region of wine making Baden-Württemberg.
The drink of the gods has been made around this region for hundreds of years, so they’ve had ample time to get the grape growing right. Maybe the grapes thrive on the mild climate and the 1600 hours of sunshine a year here? Who knows, but a good German wine is quite delicious.
Besides grapes, the region itself, however, has seen the likes of at least Bronze Age man (think tumuli grave hills), the Celts (coins from their day have been found here), and the Romans who built one of their many roads. They also built castellets and a Villa Rustica which was destroyed sometime in the mid 3rd century A.D.
Also destroyed (but at a much later date) was the Burgruine Weibertreu. You can visit the medieval castle ruins and you’ll get a great panoramic view of the vineyards. Sorry, even though the view is great snow covered, the castle’s closed when the white stuff comes.
Also from the Middle Ages is the old Johanniskirche and the remnants of the town’s original defense wall (called a Stadtmauer).
The town was again destroyed in April 1945, this time by aerial bombings by the Allies in World War II. Weinsberg was known for its prison camp for French and British officers.
Today, the town’s a place with many framework buildings, a museum dedicated to the women of Weinsberg, and the Kernerhaus; once the home of a local poet.
Of course, with all the wine making going on you’ll have to take time to go wine tasting (not to mention buying some to take home with you). There are a few rustic style hotels in Weinsberg, so you won’t have to go too far if you’ve had a bit too much sampling of the Wein. ;-)
