Besigheim

Besigheim is a small town in Baden-Württemberg that sits where the Neckar and Enz rivers meet, surrounded by steep hillsides covered with grapevines. The townscape is shaped by medieval stone buildings and traditional half-timbered houses clustered tightly around the old town center.

The settlement first appeared in records in 1153 under King Friedrich I and grew into a fortified town with defensive towers during the Staufer period. Its prosperity came partly from its strategic position at river crossings and the wine production that later developed on the surrounding hillsides.

The town's name comes from the founding family, the von Besigheim knights, who established their presence here during the Middle Ages. Today, you can see this heritage in the layout of the old town center, where narrow streets and half-timbered houses reflect the medieval period when the town served as a local center of power and trade.

The town is easily reached by public transport and has parking areas on the outskirts. The best time to visit is spring or autumn when the weather is mild and the wine region is in full activity.

The Waldhornturm tower, a remnant of the former Lower Castle, was built around 1220 and shapes the townscape with its height and thick walls. This tower is a rare example of castle architecture from that era and shows how important the settlement was as a fortification center.