The best walks and hikes around Oberderdingen

Seating area above the vineyards with a good view of the Bernhardsweiher below, created in the 13th century by monks, as well as the surrounding landscape.

Practical connection via diverse steps to reach the panoramic path above the vineyards, as part of the Oberderdinger Weinwanderweg.

Today, the Amthof in its entirety is a cultural monument of particular importance and is considered by historians and heritage conservationists to be the best-preserved monastic farmstead in Southern Germany. With the incorporation of the town hall into the tithe barn, the renovation of the rectory and other buildings, its significance has been expanded again and its fabric saved from decay. Thus, the Amthof will retain its importance as a cultural monument and focal point for the town of Oberderdingen in the years to come.

Staircase ascent to the Derdinger Horn panoramic trail

Here you can admire the best-preserved medieval monastic farmstead. For information on the individual buildings, see Wikipedia or visit the site. ... Text of the information panel (with site plan) at the "Witches' Tower": "The 150 x 200 m Amthof (administrative farmstead) is one of the best-preserved medieval monastic farmsteads; it also served as the grange of Herrenalb Abbey for the Kraichgau region. As early as the 10th century, the Weißenburg records mention a Selhof manor in Derdingen. In 1216, Herrenalb, the Cistercian abbey in the Northern Black Forest, is named as the owner of the Pfleghof (administrative farmstead), and by 1252 it was the sole owner of all sovereign rights in Derdingen. Around the mid-15th century, the monks established a monastic office here. Even after the Reformation, the monastic administrative office in Derdingen remained the center of Württemberg's possessions in the Kraichgau. Both the monastic administrator and the Württemberg bailiff resided in what is now the rectory. Since 1534, the farmstead has been referred to as Amthof. [At]" In 1693, a major fire destroyed the wine press, and the chapel's roof truss was also destroyed, along with the cooperage (Bandhaus), a hay barn next to the tithe barn, and the Thieves' Tower, one of four towers in the manor. As late as 1710, the drawbridge at the manor gate was renewed, and iron chains replaced the ropes. In 1717, the church tower received its current spire, replacing the collapsed onion dome, which had housed a guardroom. In 1806, the Derdingen district office was dissolved, and since 1808, the manor house has been the residence of the local priest. As late as 1870, the moat surrounding the manor wall was still partially filled. It wasn't until around 1903 that the manor wall was breached at the Witches' Tower to create a second entrance to the manor. Between 1984 and 1988, the manor was renovated in consultation with the historic preservation authorities. The manor was designated a cultural monument of high importance under The building is a listed historical monument. Since the conversion of the tithe barn into the town hall and the renovation of the administrative building, the former monastic farmstead has once again become the heart of the community. A small exhibition about the history of the farmstead is on display in the Witch Tower!

A central location in Oberderdingen. It's a great place to rest in front of the Amthof.

A very beautiful lake with plenty of shade. There's also a bench with a trash can. There should be more of these along the route.

Stonemasonry had been known in Stromberg since the 1st century AD. Sternenfels was devastated by the Thirty Years' War and stonemasonry came to a standstill. It was not until 1700 that stonemasonry flourished again and with it the grinding of leftover stones into sweeping sand developed. The increased need for cleanliness led to the construction of numerous sand mills from 1740 onwards. In the middle of the 19th century there were around 35 sand mills. During this period, 3 million litres of sweeping sand were delivered to Stuttgart alone every year. Despite this, the sand farmers were never wealthy and when the trade gradually lost importance due to increasingly different household materials (porcelain instead of clay and wooden dishes; hardwood parquet and linoleum instead of softwood floors), they became extremely poor. The final death blow came from the shortage of materials and the development of the chemical cleaning industry. The last sand mill closed in 1935.