Gengenbach

Gengenbach is an historic town delightfully set in the Kinzigtal of the Black Forest (Schwarzwald) and boasting romantic half timbered houses in narrow streets in the style of the Romantic Road (Romantischestraße). The city is an important link in the Baden-Württemberg German Wine Route (Weinstraße). A TV documentary referred to Gengenbach as a “pearl among the Black Forest towns”

Understand
The region was settled by the Celts in pre-Christian times and names, such as Kinzig, are reminders of that age. Germanic tribes who followed the Celts were driven out of the area by the Romans who settled Gengenbach from 73 AD until 260 AD. To this day remnants of the Roman era include a richly decorated votive column, coins, and a brick oven opened to the public in 1974. The most important Roman road from Strasbourg to Rottweil passed through Gengenbach and the town was declared a Free City by the Romans.

Drink
People know how to enjoy life where wine is grown and Gengenbach has been no exception for ages. A mild climate protects the vineyards, and the many hours of sunshine result in the production of outstanding wines.

Over 1,000 years ago, Benedictine monks planted the first vines and today, high quality wines are still grown - Riesling, Müller-Thurgau, Grauburgunder, Weissherbst, Spätburgunder red etc.

Go next
The Black Forest Mountain Route is close (30 km) whilst Baden-Baden is 45 km away, Europa Park leisure park at Rust (40 km), Freiburg-im-Breisgau (55 km) and across in France the Alsace Wine Route (30 km), Strasbourg (30 km). Lake Constance on the Swiss border is 150 km to the South.