I’m grateful to spend some time in the lovely town of Wilhelmsdorf. While there is some interesting stuff to see, it is small enough to ease back into things.
So, if you’re looking for a small town that’s got history, pretty scenery (this is Upper Swabia, yay!), and other attractions then this is a fine place for you.
It’s been said Wilhelmsdorf was “founded” by Pietists (a Lutheran movement) in 1824, but underneath it all lies the heart of a true medieval town. How so?
Well, Burg Zußdorf was built in the 13th century. That’s from the Middle Ages, right? Too bad the old castle was demolished in the 1820s. And there might not be anything left of the Ringgenburg (built around 1200) either. But interestingly enough, it was built over a prehistoric Celtic fort.
And while Wilhelmsdorf might have been started by a frugal religious sect, the town today is an inviting place with lots of cultural events throughout the year. Things like outdoor theater events, community winter hiking events, and even a Christmas Market and Autumn Market.
One of the best has to be the Riedfest in August, and the Pfrunger-Burgweiler Ried (a wetland) is beautiful enough to enjoy (almost) any time of year. It’s a nature conservation area with its own Conservation Center, and its bog area is home to a wide variety of animals — like beavers, birds, lizards, snakes (yikes!), and swans.
And if you dare to flee from those lovely snakes, Lake Constance is only 30km away. ;-)
If that’s too far for ya, go to the local Lengenweiler See — a comparably small lake that still means fun for the whole family.
Now I think some of you prefer nature only on, say, the Discovery Channel. So for you nice people, Wilhelmsdorf has a wonderful museum instead. Built in an old Swabian Farmhouse is the Museum für bäuerliches Handwerk und Kultur — which is a really long German way of saying the Museum of Peasant Crafts and Culture.
As you can see Wilhelmsdorf was (is) the best place to get your writing groove back — a perfectly small blend of what makes German towns as wonderful as its cities.
