Obernbreit: Winegrowing and History

Winegrowing, church art and traces of Jewish history reveal different sides of Obernbreit. The Breitbach flows through the village and joins the Main in neighbouring Marktbreit. The tradition of winegrowing also stretches far back: winegrowing in Obernbreit has been documented since the 13th or 14th century. These topics offer different starting points as you plan your stay and consider which experiences matter most to you.

Churches and Historical Traces

At the Protestant St. Burkard Church, you’ll encounter works of art from several centuries: a sculpture of St. Boniface dating from around 1500, a high altar from 1662, a baptismal font from 1635 and a pulpit depicting Moses from 1696. The Catholic Marienkirche offers a different architectural accent. It is a modern building designed by Hans Schädel, the Würzburg diocesan architect, and features a Stations of the Cross by Karl Clobes. So, if you’re interested in religious art, you’ll find not just a single work, but a range of examples from different periods.

The Holy Cross Chapel is another historic site in Obernbreit. It was first mentioned in documentary records in 1301 and is located in the Steinbach Valley, in the cemetery 300 metres south of the village. The chapel contains epitaphs from the 16th and 17th centuries. The former administrative buildings recall the power and wealth of the village’s former lords, adding another dimension to the history of Obernbreit’s past rulers.

Another historical trace leads to Obernbreit’s Jewish community: in the mid-18th century, it built a synagogue with a mikveh, which was used until 1911. The former synagogue regularly hosts concerts, exhibitions and talks. Topics range from Jewish culture and history to cultural diversity and tolerance. Check current listings for details of specific events.

Winegrowing and Festival Traditions

The winegrowing tradition is also reflected in the “Obernbreiter Kanzel” vineyard site. Covering a contiguous area of 24.4 hectares, it was established in three stages in 1982, 1983 and 1990. Together with documented winegrowing dating back to the 13th or 14th century, it tells a story of a long local history. Here, winegrowing is above all a defining part of the village’s heritage.

A regular fixture in the annual calendar is the “Romantik & Wein am historischen Rathaus” wine festival, held every year on the first weekend in July. If you’d like to plan your trip around the festival, check the exact dates for your chosen year. This lets you consider the special event and your interest in historic sites separately when planning.

What to Consider When Choosing Where to Stay

When looking for a holiday apartment, you can start by deciding what matters most to you: would you like to focus on church art and history, are you interested in Jewish cultural history, or would you like your stay to coincide with the wine festival? These topics offer different points of focus, without requiring you to follow a set itinerary. The Breitbach and its confluence with the Main in neighbouring Marktbreit also offer a geographical connection between Obernbreit and the waterway’s further course. You can choose which dates and places to include according to your own interests.

The wider destination of Kitzingen also offers other historical features, located specifically in Kitzingen: the Falterturm was built there between 1469 and 1496 as a watchtower on the outer town wall. The Old Main Bridge, also known as Pippinsbrücke, has medieval origins and was first mentioned in documentary records in 1300. These examples add to the picture of Kitzingen’s history without conflating these places with Obernbreit’s attractions.

Discover More Destinations

Discover more destinations: Geiselwind, Willanzheim, Dettelbach, Volkach, Marktbreit, Mainstockheim, Sulzfeld am Main, Markt Einersheim.

Back to the main travel overview: Kitzingen.