Heilbronner Land region - where town meets country

Part of the Heilbronn-Franconia region, "Heilbronner Land" is a top red wine producing area in Baden-Württemberg in the south-west of Germany. Skirting around the town of Heilbronn, the region is full of enchanting countryside off ering countless recreational activities. Romantic timber-framed buildings in the small towns and villages give way to idyllic vineyards and forested peaks. Around Heilbronn you'll encounter reminders of history at every turn, such as the remains of the Roman Limes with its forts, the former Württemberg trench border defences and many castles and palaces.

A natural paradise
The Heilbronner Land region features a variety of natural landscapes Avid climbers can spend the day hiking in the Löwenstein hills or Swabian-Franconian Forest nature reserve. From here, you're just a stone's throw from the Mediterranean-like vineyards along the River Neckar. A number of unspoilt rivers flow through the gently rolling hills. Keen racers and leisure cyclists will also enjoy the area. Lake Breitenau, the largest swimming lake in North Württemberg, offers a whole host of activities on the water.

Heilbronn - a wine-growing town associated with "Käthchen von Heilbronn"
Situated on the River Neckar, Heilbronn is known far and wide as a wine capital with 510 hectares of vineyards in the heart of Germany's No.1 red wine producing region. Running for six kilometres, the Wine Panorama Route with its many historical exhibits on the slopes of Mount Wartberg gives an insight into the variety of different wines produced here. You can sample these fine wines in style at the Wine Villa in Heilbronn or at the Heilbronn Wine Festival in September against the backdrop of the historical townhall. Today, Heilbronn is a very modern town. Most of the buildings in "old Heilbronn" were destroyed during a heavy aerial bombardment during the Second World War. A few important historical buildings survived the war, others were later rebuilt. In the town centre, St. Kilian's Church, the town's foremost architectural monument, is worth a visit. One remaining part of the town's fortifications, Götzenturm tower was named after Goethe's "Götz von Berlichingen". However, Heilbronn became known all over the world through a person that had never even been to the town: "Käthchen von Heilbronn", the literary figure created by Heinrich von Kleist, through whom the famous writer gave Heilbronn its place in world literature.

Bad Wimpfen, a former centre of imperial power
The colourful history of Bad Wimpfen was dominated by the Celts, Romans and Hohenstaufen dynasty. The name of the town reflects its Celtic origins, while the Romans left behind remarkable remains such as the "Wimpfener Götterhimmel" statue. The town is still dominated by an architectural monument dating from the days of the Hohenstaufen dynasty: the largest imperial palace north of the Alps with its striking towers, Stone House, Hohenstaufen Gate, palace chapel and arcades of the main residential building. Like Bad Rappenau, Bad Wimpfen is a recognised saline therapeutic spa. After the salt evaporation works were founded in Wimpfen, it became a popular spa resort. At the very heart of this development was the Mathildenbad spa hotel, which was built in 1835.

Celebrating in style
A number of festivals and markets are held throughout the year, attracting visitors from far and wide. These are mainly wine festivals, but there are also a number of traditional markets such as the Ilsfeld Wood Market, Leingarten Käsritt and the Brettach Krämer market. Many of the small towns and villages have inns selling home-produced wine where you can enjoy a hearty snack in good company.

Red wine and the first praline to be patented in Germany
Some of the wonderful red wines on offer include trollinger, pinot meunier, lemberger and pinot noir. In addition to wine production, the Heilbronner Land region has plenty of other attractions associated with wine  making. Brackenheim, for example, is the world's largest lemberger-producing area and the largest red wine producing area in Germany, while the State School of Viticulture in Weinsberg is the oldest in Germany. Together, wine and chocolate are a fascinating combination - and this is something people have been aware of in the Heilbronner Land region for quite some time. The "Essigschleckerle" was the first praline to be patented. Over a glass of wine, you can enjoy a selection of hearty, rustic dishes featuring tasty regional produce such as Lauffen new potatoes or Brettach apples. The most famous fan of Württemberg's regional cuisine was the first President of Germany, Theodor Heuss.