Schorndorf - Dinkelsbuhl

Route: Stuttgart - Schorndorf - Dinkelsbuhl - Stuttgart
Duration: 9 h
Our first stop in this tour will be at the Schorndorf which was first documented in the year 1235. Around 1250 Count Ulrich I of Württemberg, having seized part of the Staufen estates, founded a town to the east of the original settlement (most probably near where the church now stands), which shortly afterwards was fortified with walls. A century later, the original village was also enclosed by the ring wall. Up to the beginning of the 19th century, Schorndorf was not only the seat of Württemberg's administration but also a border fortress, responsible for defending its eastern boundary. In the 16th century, Schorndorf was the second richest town in Württemberg after Stuttgart. Its viniculture, with six wine presses, and its wine and salt trade, as well as numerous other businesses, brought considerable prosperity. During  walking across Schorndorf’s market square, you’ll find a carefully balanced mixture of old and new elements. Old Town is a protected historical site, but there is a newly structured shopping center nearby. This town is one of the most prominent on the Deutsche Fachwerkstraße (German Framework Route). The only timbered ancestry is some of the finest in Germany. Among the historical sites is a pharmacy that has existed in the Palmsche Apotheke since 1644.  Schorndorf has also restored the home of Gottlieb Daimler, the famous inventor that was native to the town. Next we will visit to Dinkelsbühl has always been regarded as a magnet for holiday-makers and people seeking rest and relaxation. An almost unspoilt townscape dating back over 400 years, mighty churches, proud patrician houses and enchanting semi-timbered houses make Dinkelsbühl, “one of the closely packed and best preserved medieval towns in Germany”, say art historians. Today, the Gothic Minster of St. George, one of South Germany’s most impressive hall churches, still dominates an old-town ensemble of particular beauty.  During the 30 Years War (1618 - 1648) broad parts of Germany were destroyed, while the medieval city of Dinkelsbühl was spared. This is because of the children of Dinkelsbühl begged favour with the Swedish colonel. For the past 100 years or so Dinkelsbühl has celebrated its delivery with a festival where the whole story is performed again. Even today the city continues to show its grateful appreciation for their help by giving coloured bags of sweets to all the children taking part in the procession.  Dinkelsbuhl’s industrious craftsmen and flourishing trading activities enhanced its wealth, with the town’s fortifications and 16 towers providing protection from attack.  Artists discovered the picturesque nooks, crannies and alleyways of the old town in the last century and now visitors from all over the world flock to the medieval town to get a taste of its vibrant ambiance. After we return to Stuttgart.
Price: per person