Calw: Hirsau Monastery and Hermann Hesse’s Footsteps
Accommodation in Calw
Calw reveals itself through literature and monastic history: Hermann Hesse’s footsteps lead through the historic town centre, while Hirsau, with its long monastic history, offers a cultural focus of its own. There are also trails through the countryside and experiences in the wider Calw destination. When planning a holiday apartment stay, it helps to first consider which of these themes you want to shape your days.
Monastic history in Hirsau
The three-aisled, exceptionally long Basilica of St. Peter and Paul in Hirsau was consecrated in 1091. It is one of the largest Romanesque churches of the 11th century in Germany. The history of the former Benedictine monastery also stretches back a long way: within the Cluniac reform movement, it was the most important German reform monastery north of the Alps in the 11th and 12th centuries. French troops destroyed it in 1692 during the War of the Palatine Succession. Its long history and abrupt end are among the place’s defining historical themes.
Numerous information panels invite you to explore the monastery complex and its history for yourself. During monastery tours, the guides show visitors St. Peter and Paul, St. Aurelius, and the monastery museum, and share the monasteries’ more than 1,000-year history. Specific tour details may vary by date, so check the current schedule if you are planning a tour.
Hesse’s Calw: trails and literary sites
The Hermann Hesse Trail links 37 steles. It runs from the Hermann Hesse Museum through the market square and historic town centre to the town garden. The steles feature historical images and text excerpts with quotations from Hesse’s works. Selected poems are displayed in the town garden; other stops also refer to the former Waldcafé and the Dr. Emil Schüz memorial stone. The former Waldcafé is a historical point of reference along the trail.
The places, streets, and buildings in Calw mentioned in the Gerbersau story cycle can still be discovered today. They can be read as literary traces of Hesse’s childhood and youth, bringing them to life in the 21st century. These are distinct from the guided tours offered through Hermann Hesse’s hometown, where anecdotes are shared, questions raised, and gaps in knowledge filled. Check dates and booking options before planning.
Another distinct perspective is offered by the Hermann Hesse hike around Calw through the Northern Black Forest. It follows the footsteps of Knulp, Hans Giebenrath, and the young Josef Knecht. The route passes through forests and hilltop towns and is accompanied by legends steeped in history. There are also numerous well-signposted trails and routes in and around Calw for exploring the Black Forest Nature Park Central/North. If you want to combine literary themes with nature experiences, you can consider these options separately according to your preferred focus; you can check the hike’s current availability in advance.
More experiences in the wider Calw destination
The wider Calw destination offers other experiences, each with its own theme. On Nagold Castle Hill, the ruins of Hohennagold Castle still contain the foundations of various buildings in the castle’s central complex, dating from the 12th century. Schömberg Barefoot Park offers a trail about 800 metres long with more than 20 different materials; check its seasonal opening hours before visiting.
The Haiterbach Nature Trail offers child-friendly information about trees and their leaves, as well as the geology of the quarry. At the animal long-jump station, visitors can compare how far different animals can jump. For a different view of the Black Forest, handmade single-seat hot rods are used for excursions at the site of the former Deckenfabrik in Calw; they reach speeds of up to 90 km/h. If you plan to try this, check availability with the operator.
Culinary experiences also add to the trip. At the bakery festival in Ebhausen, held every year on the first weekend in May, visitors can sample onion cake and wood-fired bread from the local bakehouses. Confirm the date for your chosen year. At the coffee roastery in Calw, visitors can discover coffee with all their senses and learn the secrets of the coffee bean; check visiting and booking arrangements in advance.
Calw therefore offers options for different kinds of days: monastic history in Hirsau, literary sites in town, hiking trails, or individual regional experiences. Base your search for a holiday apartment on which of these themes matter for your trip and which activities you actually plan to do.
Also discover Stammheim.
More destinations
Discover more destinations: Dobel, Haiterbach, Altensteig, Bad Herrenalb, Neuweiler, Simmozheim, Nagold.
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