Out and about in the districts

Discover the charm of the Büchenau district. The secrets of the Central German-Franconian half-timbering are hidden in the street “Au in den Buchen”. Typical of the traditional street village are the gable houses, sheds and barns.

One of the highlights is the parish church of St. Bartholomew. As the “Schönborn Church”, it has a special historical significance. The church was consecrated personally by Prince-Bishop Cardinal Schönborn in 1742. The model tower in the parish garden is reminiscent of the earlier baroque onion dome.

Come with us on a journey through time through the former farming village of Büchenau, through the Kaffee- and Kirchgässchen and experience the little town that was once characterized by tobacco and today by asparagus cultivation.

Duration: approx. 2 hours
Meeting point: Büchenau home parlor
Groups: max. 25 people
Price: Donation welcome
Booking: Marika Kramer Tel. 07257 2241 or Büchenau Office Tel. 07257 2037 or Tourist Information Tel. 07251 50594-60, touristinformation@btmv.de

A private collection of local and handicraft historical objects made it possible to set up a “local history collection” in the old school of Büchenau, which is carried out and carried out by the committed local history working group.

The range of exhibits in the collection covers many areas of earlier life in Büchenau, such as agriculture, handcraft, household and religion.

Duration: approx. 2 hours
Meeting point: Büchenau home parlor
Groups: max. 25 people
Price: Donation appreciated
Booking: Marika Kramer Tel. 07257 2241 or Büchenau Tel. 07257 2037, or Tourist Information Tel. 07251 50594-60, touristinformation@btmv.de

Until 1936 Rosa lived with her husband and daughter in the Katzenturm – without water and without electricity. Dressed in the style of the 30s of the 20th century, on a tour of the city she tells not only about her life, but also about famous people who lived in Heidelsheim. For example, a minister of the interior and a private banker from Switzerland once spent their youth here. The great-grandson of a local family even became Minister of Justice in the newly founded State of Israel.

There is a lot to report from the Linsenviertel, about the Törles or Diebsturm and the oldest building of the “old Catholic” church. What was the function of an inn sign? Where did people bathe in the Middle Ages? What penalties were given for “defamation” of the mayor? You can find out all of this on our guided tour with “Rosa” in Heidelsheim.

Duration: approx. 1.5 hours
Meeting point: Heidelsehim market square fountain
Groups: max. 25 people
Price on request
Booking: Touristinformation Bruchsal, Tel. 07251/5059461, touristinformation@btmv.de

The tower keeper Peter Schwedes and the tower keeper Petra Heermann bring the history of the Katzenturm to life for you through the ages. In addition to a general overview of the city’s history and the life of the “Heydolfesheimer” in the Middle Ages, they explain the tasks of the city’s sworn tower guards. Finally, enjoy the magnificent view from the 25 meter high tower room over the former imperial city.

Notes :
Climb the cat tower at your own risk! Children only when accompanied by an adult.

Duration: approx. 1.5 hours
Meeting point: by the fountain on the market square
Groups: max. 20 people
Price on request
Booking: Tourist Information Tel. 07251 50594-60, touristinformation@btmv.de

Experience the history of the former imperial city of Heydolfesheim in the city gate. Lanterns from different ages hang on the ceilings. Agricultural implements in the first exhibition room show how and with what people used to work in agriculture in order to feed themselves. The old Heidelsheim handicraft is presented in the middle floor of the tower. A grand ducal handicraft ordinance from 1938 hangs on the walls; numerous pictures and showcases set the mood for earlier times. The room with the high arched windows on the upper floor is dedicated to the history of the city.

Duration: approx. 1 hour
Meeting point: Heidelsheim local history museum
Groups: max. 30 people
Price: Donation appreciated
Booking: Reinhard Renn, Tel. 07257 6443

The museum is open every 2nd and 4th Sunday of the month from 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.

In the midst of the Kraichgau hills, surrounded by vineyards and orchards, the Helmsheim district shows itself from its most beautiful side. It goes past Steiner’schen Mühle, along Kurpfalzstrasse to the pretty town hall with its newly designed village square, past the renovated Evangelical Melanchthon Church with its impressive organ to the “Old Wine Press”, which today serves as a club.

After a look at the baroque altar of the Catholic Church of St. Sebastian and the renovated water reservoir, the tour ends in the middle of the vineyards, from where you can enjoy an impressive view.

Duration: approx. 2 hours
Meeting point: Helmsheim tram stop
Groups: max 20 people
Price on request
Booking: Tourist Information, Tel. 07251 50594-60, touristinformation@btmv.de

Here in Helmsheim, in Gottesau, is the first ostrich farm in Germany that only focuses on the provision of drug-free, allergy-friendly ostrich eggs from species-appropriate keeping. In the former clay pit of Helmsheim, the animals graze on 1.5 hectares of orchards under old fruit trees that are in bloom or harvest.

Find out everything about the Gottesau farm, its orchards and its large birds with the relatively smallest, but absolutely largest eggs in the world.

See the smallest, the bees, right next to the largest winged farm animals. Experience dinosaur anatomy up close. You have the opportunity to test the egg stability and estimate the weight of a freshly laid egg.
The question still remains: How many chicken eggs can one ostrich egg hold?

Duration: approx. 1.5 hours
Meeting point: Helmsheim tram stop
Groups: max 25 people
Price: Donation to the feed fund
Booking: Tel. 0176 55601799, corinna.herrmann@gottesau.de

Note : Including fruit juice tasting

The tour through the harmonious town of Obergrombach provides a vivid insight into a bygone era. At the foot of the impressive castle complex, some evidence of Obergrombach’s medieval building stock is still preserved.

Experience the world of the late Middle Ages with us. From the old parish church at the Grombachquelle with the wall paintings from the 15th century, it goes over the remains of the former city wall and the battlements to the excellently restored half-timbered houses on the market square.

Duration: approx. 1.5 hours
Meeting point: by appointment
Groups: max. 30 people
Price on request
Booking: Touristinformatio, Tel. 07251 50594-6, touristinformation@btmv.de

By purchasing the first part of this cemetery, an association of 20 surrounding Jewish communities secured an “eternal” burial site in 1632. Up to the Reichskristallnacht 1938 there were around 2,300 graves. The cemetery was thus one of the largest in Baden.

For generations, many well-known Jewish families buried their dead in this park-like cemetery on the edge of the forest in Obergrombach, such as the Carlebach, Sulzberger, Bär, Oppenheimer, Palm, Hirsch, Meerapfel families. In 1938/39 it was desecrated: over 1,500 gravestones were smashed and some were used as curbs on public roads. A part could be retrieved and can now be seen without assignment on outer walls, steles and on a large area.

During the tour you will learn something about the various symbols on Jewish gravestones, about the memorial into which a pillar of the former Bruchsal synagogue is integrated and about the history of Jewish families from our region.

Note:
Men must wear a hat. No guided tour on Sabbath / Saturday.

Duration: approx. 1.5 hours
Meeting point: entrance to the cemetery on the Eichelberg
Groups: max. 50 people
Price on request
Booking: Touristinformatio, Tel. 07251 50594-60, touristinformation@btmv.de </ a >

The idyllic place at the foot of the Michaelsberg is also known as the Ladder Village because of its street layout. It shows many a structural treasure. Some of the mills, wine presses and fountains date from the Middle Ages. The lovingly restored ridge pillar house from 1428 is one of the oldest half-timbered buildings in Kraichgau.

The focus of the tour is the Catholic parish church of St. Cosmas and Damian, which was planned by the Baden-Grand Ducal architect Heinrich Hübsch. The nurses’ home St. Elisabeth, created by Prelate Kreutz, was the first versatile and social institution in the village shortly after 1900.

We also take a look at the town halls and inns, especially their eventful history in the 20th century. The Jewish houses and their families as well as the synagogue with regard to the Nazi era are dealt with separately. Complemented by the presentation on 20 display boards, this tour gives an overall impression of the thousand-year-old place. Incidentally, Untergrombach is the birthplace of the famous peasant revolutionary Joß Fritz!

Duration: approx. 1.5 hours
Meeting point: Catholic parish church St. Cosmas and Damian
Groups: max. 30 people
Price on request
Booking: Touristinformatio, Tel. 07251 50594-60, touristinformation@btmv.de

On this guided tour through the historic half-timbered building of today’s local museum, you will experience up close how people used to live, cook and live back then.

The impressive building from the early 15th century is characterized by its rare ridge pillar construction. It is one of the oldest in the Kraichgau and one of the most important cultural assets in Bruchsal. Admire the old, preserved building materials and the architectural space concept of this building, such as the beech timber or the open fireplace that was placed in the center of the house. Sniff how the smoke wafted through the house and wander through the diverse history of Untergrombach.

The Heimatverein has set up a remarkable museum in ten rooms.
The spectrum ranges from exhibits about the Stone Age Michelsberg culture, the life of the farmer’s leader Joß Fritz, the tobacco industry and lifestyle in the 19th century, other exhibits document the church history and the partnership with the French community of Ste. Marie-aux-Mines.

Duration: approx. 1.5 hours
Meeting point: Heimatmuseum Untergrombach, Obergrombacher Straße 32
Groups: max. 25 people
Price on request
Booking: Tourist Information, Tel. 07251 50594-60, touristinformation@btmv.de

The eventful church history of Bruchsal takes you on a tour through different epochs of art history. On the area of the baroque palace, in the court church, you will find impressive pictures of the Stations of the Cross by the artist HAP Grieshaber. Our tour also includes the Luther Church and the city church “Our Lady”.

All three churches share a common fate: They were destroyed in World War II. After 1945 they were rebuilt with different artistic approaches and visions and thus we walk on paths of different architectural and art styles, such as Gothic, Baroque or Neo-Romanesque to modernity.

Duration: approx. 1.5 hours
Meeting point: by arrangement
Groups: max. 25 people
Price on request
Booking: Touristinformation Bruchsal, Tel. 07251/5059461, touristinformation @ btmv.de

Prince-Bishop Cardinal Damian Hugo von Schönborn wanted a place where he and his successors should find their final resting place. The grounds of the old cemetery were the perfect place for a Church of the Holy Sepulcher. “He started building the old St. Peters parish church based on the model of the Peters church in Rome,” says Bruchsal chronicler Thierry. He entrusted the planning and construction management
none other than Balthasar Neumann.
A real gem, because St. Peter’s Church survived the destruction of Bruchsal by the bombing on March 1, 1945 without damage. Let yourself be impressed by the baroque masterpiece, which still exudes the contemporary attitude to life today.

Note : A tour of the organ can be arranged, especially after a church service.

Duration: 1 hour
Meeting point: entrance of the church
Price on request
Booking: Touristinformation Bruchsal, Tel. 07251 5059461, touristinformation@btmv.de

The Luther Church is one of the large churches in the center of Bruchsal. It is built in the style of a basilica and, with its massive tower and limestone construction, looks like “a solid castle” to the viewer in accordance with Lutheran ideas. The inauguration of the Luther Church took place on the 1st of Advent 1936. After it was partially destroyed on March 1, 1945, it was inaugurated again just five years later. Since then it has been a place of prayer for many people. The altarpiece of the oversized resurrected man, the restored Steinmeyer organ and the three church windows in the prayer and prayer room as well as the air raid shelter, in which numerous people survived the attack in 1945, are characteristic.

Duration: approx. 20 – 30 min.
Meeting point: entrance of the church
Group: max. 25 people
Prize: Donation to the Luther Church requested
Booking: Tourist Information, Tel. 07251 50594-60, touristinformation@btmv.de