A good friend once told me that it isn’t all about just the historical sites when you’re on vacation. What? Why else would someone trek all the way around the globe to places like Winterbach in Baden-Württemberg?
For real, can’t you just picture yourself strolling down small cobblestone lanes with framework houses (you know, those fairytale looking homes) just beckoning you to take a picture? Yeah, me too.
Funny, friend. Especially since Winterbach has not one, not two, but three Town Halls (called a Rathaus, BTW) — two of which are those fantastically charming half-timbered beauts!
Sorry, the gorgeous St. Michael’s Church might not be a half-timbered, but you’ll still love it. Even better that it’s located right next to two of the Town Hall buildings — so there’s no excuse to miss it. ;-)
Even Winterbach’s Local History Museum is a piece of this architectural history. The museum is housed within the Haus Dopelmann, a framework house built in 1776.
But, in all fairness to my buddy, I can scope out the rest of Winterbach. I found that the town likes to get down & party hearty! Every year at the end of June there’s the Winterbacher Brunnenfest (Fountain Festival), that’s not even counting the annual Summer Festival in July; and on odd-numbered years, there’s a grand Cultural Fest.
Speaking of culture, Winterbach has all sorts of art exhibitions throughout the year, and a medicinal herb garden which teaches about the curative properties of plants (located at Eichenweg 22).
To combine a little bit of culture with some exercise, I’d suggest joining the Nordic Walking Days in September. Everyone from all over gets together to trek the three different routes (3.5km, 6km, and 9.9km, respectively).
Of course the Nordic Walking trails are open to hikers other times of the year, just so you’re aware.
What isn’t open year round is the outdoor swimming pool — that’s only from April to September. But, you’ll have swimming, volleyball, table tennis, basketball, and BBQ packed within those six months.
Maybe what my friend said has SOME merit, but I still always manage to come back to picturing myself strolling down cobblestoned streets. Don’t you?!
