The home of your host

Welzheim is the place where „Idyllic Road“ and the „German Limes Road“ meet in the Swabian Forest. The Limes town, home to 11200 inhabitants, has a lot to offer to its citizens as well as to its visitors and guests.

The pedestrianized city centre with its various shops invites visitors to stroll and shop. Several sidewalk cafés and ice cream parlors offer their unhurried comfort in form of a large cup of ice cream, a proper Swabian snack or a glass of regional wine.

You will find rest and recreation in the city park and the adjacent forest with redwood trees that are about 140 years old and almost 50 meter high. Enjoy yourself, there are plenty of opportunities for everyone. You can choose between minigolf, pétanque, table tennis, streetball or a playground for the youngest.

History

Follow us on a brief walk through the history of Welzheim before we move on to its cultural offerings and various possibilities for activities and recreation in the area.

As early as 150 AD the Romans built a fort and a settlement at the site of today’s Welzheim in 150 AD. From this place on the Upper German-Raetian Limes was built straight for about 80 km. The eastern one of the former two castles has been preserved and partially reconstructed in the 1980s. The archeologic park at the "Ostkastell” comprises reconstructions of the original gate, parts of the wall and a well. Footprints of the stone buildings, replicas of sculptures and reliefs as well as presentation boards provide the visitors with insight into the Roman history of the region.

Numerous remains of Roman times can be found along the Limes Hiking Trail. The trail passes on 45 km many reconstructed or restored guard towers and sentries and a multitude of informational signs. The high significance of the Limes was acknowledged and emphasized by the UNESCO in 2005, when it was decided that the “Frontiers of the Roman Empire” are a world heritage site consisting of Hadrian’s Wall in England and the Limes.

Pure Nature

Let us take a mental leap through time to the 12 century. The first millwheels begin to turn and agriculture and forestry characterize the landscape around Welzheim.

26 flour and saw mills had once been built in the forested region around Welzheim - the “Welzheimer Wald” – and nine of them have been restored and are now connected by a 32 km long looped hiking trail. The "Mill Hiking Trail is divided into three marked sections of 10 to 12 km for half a-day tours. The mills are in operation and open to the public on Whit Monday every year to offer insight into the work of a miller in former times.

Geologically interested hikers will find a lot of information on the characteristics of the Keuper highland and the regional geological conditions around Welzheim on the 10 km long Geological Nature Trail.

Places of Interest

The Observatory with three observation cupolas at the hamlet Langenberg is a main attraction for people intered in astronomy. The site is a satellite station of the Carl-Zeiss-Planetarium Stuttgart and offers excellent conditions for astronomic observation - unspoilt by smog or light scatter. The observatory is open to the interested public at varying times during winter and summer.

Coming back to the city itself you will find the City Museum in a scenic assembly of buildings at the old rectory. The Roman section presents numerous findings of the archeological excavations in the Roman forts, including examples of the famous shoe findings of Welzheim. In the regional history section fully furnished parlours, a forge and a shoemaker’s workshop show examples of rural life in the 18th and 19th century. Precious toys manufactured at Welzheim can also be seen in a small local history parlour.

When taking the Historical City Tour the visitor will also pass the more than 500 year-old St.Gallus Church where you can see late Gothic portal figures and stained glass windows created by Hans Gottfried von Stockhausen. Von Stockhausen was a renowned Professor at the Stuttgart Academy of Fine Arts and other universities, his glass works decorate about 100 churches and other buildings all over the world.

Activities and sports

You really don’t have to search for any free time activity or sports in Welzheim - there are more than 110 clubs for sports, social and cultural activities which offer a huge variety for an active life. A 18-hole golf course, horseback riding, fishing, tennis and gliding are just a few of your options. The young might enjoy inline skating at the skate park or beach volleyball. Just 3 km away the “Schwabenpark” promises recreational fun for the whole family during summer season. There are many lakes in the region waiting for you to take a refreshing swim in summer. You can ride pedal or rowboats on the Ebnisee and the lake near Aichstrut has a campground and lots for trailers and caravans.

During winter ice skating and hockey are possible when the lakes are frozen and there is a 65km long network of cross-country ski runs of different levels in the area around Welzheim.

And lots more

Countless visitors come to this „metropolis“ of the “Welzheimer Wald” when various recurring events take place. The Welzheimer street fest with a large flea market, the popular wood- and farmer’s market in September, or the Christmas market in December attract visitors from near and far.

At the „local days“ which take place every five years the participating businesses and clubs turn the inner city into a colorful party. They attract an audience just as big as the “Welzheim Roman Days”which will take place on 23rd and 24th June 2010 for the second time and will again spread the good news of Welzheim near and far.

When Roman legions „occupy“ Welzheim and set up their camp in the „Ostkastell“ many spectators feel like they have traveled back in time to the days of the Romans.

Welzheim has been a climatic spa since 1949 and offers variety to its citizens, visitors and guests with all its cultural opportunities and arrangements. Free time and recreation are a priority here and the city has a high recreational value.

We wanted to give you an understanding of Welzheim and its surroundings and would be happy if we were able to spark interest in our history-laden region. The city of Welzheim is looking forward to your visit. And if you come as an archer and have your bow with you, just come to our archery range and shoot some passes with us.

Read more about Welzheim on the website of the city of Welzheim.