Wiesloch: Discover the city’s history and vineyards
Accommodation in Wiesloch
Wiesloch brings together an unusual history of pharmacy, medieval architectural landmarks, and opportunities for hiking among the vineyards in the southwest. You can choose the focus of your trip—cultural history, time outdoors, or a mix of both—and select a holiday apartment to suit your plans.
File:1905-lokomotivschuppen-der-thonwaarenindustrie-wiesloch-ag.jpg
Photo: Uncredited and unidentified drafter/contractor to Thonwaaren-Industrie Wiesloch AG via Source, Public domain
The history of pharmacy and special collections
On August 5, 1888, Wiesloch pharmacist Ockel supplied Bertha Benz and her sons’ Patent-Motorwagen with about three liters of ligroin during their journey from Mannheim to Pforzheim. This made the Wiesloch town pharmacy known as the “world’s first filling station.” If you are traveling with children, this story offers a tangible episode in the history of technology: it links a journey, a stop to refuel, and a place in Wiesloch.
The Wiesloch Municipal Museum is housed in the medieval defensive tower known as “Dörndl.” One of its main themes is mining in Wiesloch, which took place from Celtic times until the 1950s. Another glimpse into local history is the unique pharmacy interior from 1858, preserved by the Stadt-Apotheke Wiesloch Museum. The subjects therefore range from early mining to the history of the pharmacy.
Churches, towers, and traces of the town’s history
The churches offer a chance to compare different periods and architectural styles. St. Laurentius was built between 1745 and 1750 and has lavish Late Baroque furnishings; the high altar is by Johann Anwander. The Protestant town church was built in the 11th century as a three-aisled Romanesque basilica with piers. Its surviving tower walls are considered to belong to the oldest church tower in northern Baden. A floor window in the nave offers a glimpse into the church’s construction history.
The surviving parts of the former Wiesloch royal castle also tell the story of medieval architecture. They include a defensive tower from the 14th century and parts of the palas. The Freihof is the oldest surviving residential building in Wiesloch; its main building belonged to a fortified manor of the von Sickingen family dating from the 14th century. The Sauermillichhaffe defensive tower is part of the surviving medieval town wall. The tower and adjoining sections of the wall date from the mid-14th century.
Some signs recall buildings that no longer survive. At the Lower Gate, a plaque now marks the former location of the town entrance. At the Upper Gate, a plaque and foundations picked out in color in the paving of the pedestrian zone indicate the former gate tower. The Old Town Hall was rebuilt in 1713. An archway with a keystone dated 1746 marks the former entrance to the horse-changing station of the princely Thurn and Taxis post.
Other highlights include a well-preserved Roman stone cellar in the moat in front of a section of the medieval town wall, opposite Dörndl, as well as public artworks: the Karel Fron Fountain, erected in 1988 to mark the 700th anniversary, stands in the market square. A sculpture of Bertha Benz is located in the Protestant church square. A plaque in Synagogengasse commemorates the Jewish community and symbolizes an attempt at reconciliation after the Second World War.
Hikes and outdoor activities
The vineyards in the southwest of Wiesloch invite you to go hiking. If you want to include outdoor activity in your plans, you can take this into account when choosing your accommodation; for a stay focused on cultural history, the buildings and museums mentioned above can instead be the main focus of your plans.
On its event days, the Field Railway and Industrial Museum adds a ride to its museum exhibits: visitors can then travel on the “little museum train” along the reconstructed field railway track through the countryside. WieTalBad outdoor swimming pool is listed as open from May to September. Check current dates before visiting. The Municipal Museum is listed as open on Sundays from 2 to 4 p.m.; here, too, it is advisable to check current visiting arrangements before planning your visit.
Plan visits by arrangement
The Municipal Museum offers individual guided tours on request for kindergartens, school classes, and groups. Flexible reservations by arrangement are possible at the Stadt-Apotheke Wiesloch Museum; costs depend on the work involved. As reservation arrangements may change, check current options before your visit. These different ways of visiting may be important for your plans: a guided tour requires an inquiry, while the information for the Stadt-Apotheke provides for reservations by arrangement.
Discover more destinations: Ladenburg, Schönbrunn, Heiligkreuzsteinach, Hockenheim, Heddesheim, Reichartshausen, Dielheim, Neckargemünd.
Back to the main travel overview: Rhine-Neckar District.
