Bad Wimpfen Germany Baden-Wurttemberg
Frequently Asked Questions
Below the old town, right on the Neckar River at the foot of the hill. The historic centre sits on a ridge above the water, so expect a few minutes of uphill walking from the gangway to the first lanes.
Yes, and it is really the only sensible way. The entire historic centre fits on its promontory, distances are short and no transport is needed. Only the initial climb takes a little effort.
The Blauer Turm is a keep built around 1170, topped with a blue-slate roof that rises 58 metres above the rooftops. Watchmen tasked with spotting fires lived there until surprisingly recent times. Visitors can climb it today: the viewing platform opens onto a full circle of the Neckar's meanders and the hills of the Heilbronn region.
Fragments, but eloquent ones: the fortified gate, the stone hall, the palatine chapel and above all the Romanesque arcades, whose carved colonnettes have framed the valley for eight centuries. In the 12th century this was the largest imperial palace north of the Alps. Nothing has been showily reconstructed; the remains are simply woven into the town, with panels and a small museum to help piece the whole together.
Three hours cover the full circuit, climb included: the Blue Tower first to get your bearings, then the arcades, chapel and fortified gate, and finally the half-timbered lanes on the way back down to the river.
Not easily, and it is fairer to say so. The climb from the riverbank and the cobbled streets of the old town call for good shoes and a sure step. The Blue Tower is reached by staircase, with no lift. Anyone who would rather avoid the slope can stay along the Neckar, but most of what makes the place worth seeing is at the top.
Because the town is a spa. The saline springs worked since the 19th century earned the former imperial city that prefix, which means 'bath' in German. You will see as many spa guests out walking as history enthusiasts.
The euro and German. Cards are accepted in shops and restaurants in the centre, but Germany still runs partly on cash: a few euros in your pocket will save you trouble at small cafés and the tower ticket desk. English is understood at tourist sites, less so elsewhere.
May through September, when the small gardens are heavy with roses and the market square terraces are set out. River cruises on the Neckar run from April to October in any case. Early and late in the season the low light on the half-timbered facades is a photographer's gift, but bring a raincoat.
Moderately. Climbing the Blue Tower usually goes over well, and the lanes where leaning facades nearly touch above the cobbles have a storybook feel. But this is above all a stop for history and unhurried wandering: young children tire of it faster than at a nature or beach call.
