Tiefenbronn: Discover Gothic Altars and Trails

St. Mary Magdalene and its late Gothic altars

The main altar by Hans Schüchlin was created in 1469 and is considered one of the most significant winged altars in southwestern Germany. The large retable has wings painted on both sides, a predella, and a superstructure; its design combines Marian and Passion altars. The Magdalene Altar is also one of the church’s five late Gothic winged altars. It is by Lucas Moser and is dated 1432; it was created in 1431/32. Its iconography is devoted to the themes of remorse, penance, and conversion.

The church’s furnishings also include a Gothic tower monstrance by Augsburg artist Jörg Seld, dating from 1500 and the most important treasure in the church treasury, as well as the Gothic choir. The choir dates from around 1350 and has a high rib-vaulted ceiling. The stained-glass windows were made in Strasbourg in 1370 and supplemented by Emil Wachter in 1976. St. Mary Magdalene is a church founded through a donation; it was first mentioned in the first half of the 12th century. The different dates and works offer visitors several points of reference across time, from the early Middle Ages to the addition to the stained-glass windows in the 20th century.

Tours of St. Mary Magdalene can be arranged in advance through the parish office or with Annemarie Gindele by calling 07234 4211.

Local history and a short trail for all the senses

The historic walking tour in the Tiefenbronn district provides background information on the Gemmingen Castle and other buildings. Historic images on the building signs supplement the information and offer glimpses into the past. The tour is ideal for anyone who wants to learn more about the history of the buildings while walking.

The “Path of the Senses” offers another way to experience the surroundings. This relatively short walking trail leads from the sports field to the cemetery in Tiefenbronn and was designed by Hede Leicht in 2017. Texts along the trail invite you to focus on trees, shrubs, and flowers and to experience your surroundings consciously through different senses. The historic walking tour focuses on buildings and their past, while the “Path of the Senses” draws attention to the immediate surroundings and their vegetation.

Compare cycling tours and walking trails

For a walk, the R 2000 hiking trail loops around the Tiefenbronn district. If you prefer to cycle, the Chapel Trail is a signposted, moderately difficult route via Tiefenbronn and Neuhausen to Hohenwart. It is suitable for ATB and MTB bikes. Some chapels are a little way off the trail, which may be worth considering when planning individual detours.

The longer, also moderately difficult Würm/Monbachtal cycling tour offers a different setting: it runs through the Hagenschieß, along the Würm and Nagold rivers, and through the Monbachtal, passing through Neuhausen before returning to Tiefenbronn. The tour is suitable for experienced families with cycling experience. Compared with the Chapel Trail, this route emphasizes its greater length and the sequence of landscapes through forest, along waterways, and through the valley. The right route therefore also depends on whether you are looking for a tour of chapels or a longer ride through varied landscapes.

The Höfetour is a short, easy family cycling tour that loops around Tiefenbronn; along the way, you can visit farmsteads. It is in the immediate vicinity of the destination. For a more relaxed walk, the “Path of the Senses” offers a comparatively short route, while the R 2000 is a circular hiking trail around the district. These differences can help you plan your stay around your preferred activity and timeframe, without combining the different trails into a single tour.

The Enzkreis as a wider regional setting

For regional context, it is worth looking at the Enzkreis: it lies in the Northern Black Forest region, in the heart of Baden-Württemberg, between the metropolitan areas of Stuttgart and Karlsruhe, and surrounds the independent city of Pforzheim. The landscapes of the Enzkreis vary considerably. In the northwest, fields, meadows, and vineyards are part of the Kraichgau; the sparse landscape of the Heckengäu is characterized by juniper heathland, blackthorn, and hedges of hawthorn. The Stromberg features forested heights, gentle valleys, and sunny vineyard sites. In the southwest of the Enzkreis, the Northern Black Forest opens up, with dense fir forests, forest meadows, wide plateaus, and narrow valleys. These regional contrasts provide context for the Enzkreis and do not describe the individual trails or sights in Tiefenbronn.

You can also discover Lehningen as another destination.

Discover more destinations: Kieselbronn, Wiernsheim, Niefern-Öschelbronn, Mühlacker, Ötisheim, Straubenhardt, Königsbach-Stein.

Go to the main travel overview: Enzkreis.