You know, you could live your whole life in Germany and still not learn everything there is to know about German history. Don’t look at me like that — every Web page I write I’ve learned something new. Today it was about the Waldensians in Wiernsheim.
The who in the where? The Waldensians in the town of Wiernsheim in Baden-Württemberg.
The Waldensians were a religious sect that was very popular in the Middle Ages in the countries surrounding Germany; and almost totally wiped out after they were persecuted for their beliefs.
Over in Pinache, one of Wiernsheim’s villages, you’ll find the oldest Waldensian church in the country. A Waldensian church is also found in the village of Serres, and they’ve got a Waldensian Fountain too.
It isn’t about the Waldensians in the village of Iptingen. Nope, they’ve got a half-timbered former Gasthaus, and a 16th century church with its own fortified tower.
Forget all that — they’re about the coffee in Wiernsheim proper. Can you imagine a museum totally dedicated to the coffee grinder? Over a thousand of them, no less.
What else is there to learn about in Wiernsheim? Oh, that’s it’s quite close to a number of castles. I don’t know if you’ve ever heard about the ruins of Burg Löffelstelz (in Mühlacker).
Wiernsheim is also near Schloss Bruchsal (in Bruchsal) and Schloss Neuenbürg (in Neuenbürg).
Non-castle loving folk can stay in Wiernsheim and hit up the Gothic Pfarrkirche St. Mauritius, all the art in the Town Hall, or the medieval Monastery Complex.
In my quest for knowledge, have I missed anything? Oh yes, to tell you about some of Wiernsheim’s cultural activities. The most popular ones would be the Community Easter Egg Hunt (it’s good for all ages), and the Straßenfest (Street Festival) in July.
And being so close to the town of Leonberg, lots of folks like to stay here for the night for the Pferdemarkt, which is a Horse Market that’s held on the second Tuesday of every February.
No need to run off anywhere, though. Wiernsheim lies in a region called the Heckengäu. Which means it’s full of hiking trails and bike paths — a great way to experience the nearby Black Forest, if you ask me.
I’m sorry… it’s time for me to go learn something new somewhere else — but you’re more than welcome to stick around for a while longer.
