Culinary prowess abounds in the federal state of Baden-Württemberg, known as SouthWest Germany. No less than 85 Michelin stars shine over this beautiful area that is dotted with fine restaurants, sustainable farming, traditional foods and timeless recipes adapted and changed to fit modern lifestyles and tastes. Two wine regions, world class Schnapps and delicious beer brewed through the centuries enhance your food experience. The state’s palaces, monasteries and fortresses are full of stories about dining and enjoyment, from the Romans to the stately castle kitchens. Small and large restaurants in urban contexts and village settings also offer memorable meals based on traditional recipes, local products and lots of creativity and training. From the village of Baiersbronn, Germany’s culinary epicenter with eight Michelin stars to the wine hotels in the Rebland outside of Baden-Baden and the castle restaurant in Heidelberg, visitors will be delighted by the quality of their meals and the beauty of the table settings and the professional service. Stuttgart will be celebrating 200 years of the Cannstatter Was’n beer festival this year and this capital of SouthWest Germany is pulling out all the stops for its visitors for the historical festival in the town square. Not to be outdone, Schwetzingen is in the midst of its celebration of 350 years of growing the royal vegetable, white asparagus, that once adorned the plates of only the kings and queens but now is a favorite with everyone.
We are looking forward to an incredible summer! Please come and visit!
Beer Here, Beer There! Beer Everywhere in Stuttgart! 200 Years of the Cannstatter Was’n Beer Festival
The first beer festival on the Cannstatter Wasen was held 200 years ago and this year they are celebrating with special festivities on the Palace Square from September 26 to October 3 with the beer festival extending to October 14. Originally the idea of King Wilhelm I of Württemberg and his consort, Queen Katharina, it began as a combination of a festival for the general public and an agricultural fair, and it was intended to aid the recovery of Württemberg’s battered economy in the aftermath of the Napoleonic Wars. Last year more than four million people from all corners of the globe visited the “Wasen.” The original harvest festival has developed into a popular public celebration. This year Stuttgart will celebrate a double jubilee with the “Historical Festival 2018”: 200 years of the Stuttgart Beer Festival and 100 years of the Agricultural Show (September 29 – October 7) on the Cannstatter Wasen.
>> Stuttgart’s Beer and Historical Festivals
Forty-Three Types of Beer, Four Historic Breweries and an 8.6 mile Beer Trail
Probably nowhere else in the world does a town have four historic, independent and family-owned breweries and offer 43 different types of beer on tap . The tiny town of Ehingen with 26,500 inhabitants is a beer lover’s destination but also a place that has old-fashioned charm and top biking and hiking paths to complement the delicious brews. From July 7 to 9, the town pours out to celebrate St. Ulrich, its patron saint, and wooden barrels are all the rage. Nestled in the southeast of SouthWest Germany, the federal state of Baden-Württemberg, the tiny town of Ehingen has a lot to tap! Four historic breweries produce 43 different beers and have excellent traditional menus. Ehingen’s motto for itself as a “beer culture city,” has been awarded for the various beer experiences including a brewery tour, the effervescent seminar and the beer hiking trail to the BierKulturHotel, exhibitions and lectures to name just a few. With the free Ehingen app, you can participate in the theme city tour “beer culture city” on your smartphone or tablet: 365 days a year – 24 hours a day.
Heidelberg is a Fun Loving, Café Hopping, Beer Brewing Town with Centuries of Charm and a University Atmosphere
For centuries, Heidelberg has been home to one of the world’s top universities, intellectual debate and science. The university continues to hold this elevated status today with students and professors from around the world coming to study there. Many people, students included, relish Heidelberg for its cafes, breweries, restaurants, student pubs and confectionaries. Café Knösel, for example, is the oldest café in Heidelberg, where in 1863 the “chocolate student kiss” was invented. It has a cosy coffee house atmosphere in a traditional ambience. Also right in the heart of the old town, between “Heiliggeistkirche” and the “Alte Brücke,” lies Vetter’s Brauhaus. The inn brewery is an institution in Heidelberg where you can find fresh, home made beer white sausage and oven-fresh pretzels. Traditional student pubs, such as the Red Ox, right off the main square, are a must visit not only for the beer but also the food and convivial atmosphere with a piano player singing old student songs. Taking the funicular up to the castle, or even the steps will reward you with the possibility of eating at the elegant Michelin-starred restaurant,”Scharffs Schlossweinstube,” in Heidelberg Castle overlooking the old town and the river. Culinary tours through Heidelberg are bookable on the website.
>> Heidelberg
Eat Your Heart Out in Schwetzingen and Follow the White Asparagus Trail
The royal vegetable, first grown in the Schwetzingen castle garden in the middle of the 17th century and once reserved for the Electoral table only, is now available fresh from the field every day at the asparagus market or from the backyards of villagers in Schwetzingen’s old town. This world famous white asparagus season happens in April and May every year and the special types of asparagus shopped for by the Michelin chefs come from the town of Schwetzingen where they were first grown 350 years ago at the palace. Schwetzingen Palace is famous for the beauty and harmony of its gardens. Remarkably, the original design, in all its diversity, survives to this day. It is highly recommended to reserve for an asparagus dinner at the palace restaurant where you can really dine like a king and queen and receive a royal welcome. Schwetzingen serves as a perfect base also to visit neighboring palaces and villages along the asparagus trail.
>> Schwetzingen
Baiersbronn: A Culinary Pilgrimage Worth Making in the Heart of the Black Forest
Surrounded by lush green forests, Baiersbronn is a culinary pilgrimage worth taking. Although the town has only 14,500 residents, three five-star hotel restaurants hold an inspiring eight Michelin stars. The star chefs are not only known for the quality of their food but also for the charming and elegant atmosphere in which they present their masterpieces. This town does not pride itself only on its luxury offers and there is more than meets the eye in Baiersbronn. An impeccable combination of startlingly beautiful nature and delicious gourmet food everywhere from restaurants and inns and to picnic baskets filled with “Baiersbronn Treasures” creates a comprehensive travel and culinary experience for visitors. Also, nearby, in the Murg valley, the Eberstein Castle is flourishing after being renovated by the Overlack family in 2005. The Castle’s main restaurant holds its own Michelin star. The Eberstein Winery’s vineyards have been replanted and produce the highest quality wines. It is a fairy tale experience and the castle offers 14 rooms and suites.
>> Baiersbronn
