Merklingen: Discover the fortified church and St. Remigius Church

Merklingen brings its history to life through tangible buildings. The medieval fortified church, St. Remigius Church and a historical village trail give a visit a clear cultural focus. The surrounding wall and moat are part of the history of this fortified settlement, while the trail’s stops include several historic buildings. This allows you to discover Merklingen both through a striking architectural ensemble and through individual buildings in the village.

The fortified church and St. Remigius Church

Merklingen’s fortified church once belonged to Herrenalb Abbey. The complex surrounding the Protestant St. Remigius Church was once a town protected by a surrounding wall and moat. The church and fortifications thus tell two sides of the same local history: religious use and the community’s former protection.

After a fire in 1417, St. Remigius Church was rebuilt with Late Gothic elements. Its sturdy eastern tower has loopholes. Notable features of the interior include tombs and epitaphs dating from 1574 and 1612. The different architectural elements and dates offer tangible points of reference for appreciating the church as a testament to local architectural and commemorative history.

Explore historic sites at your own pace

You can take guided tours in and around the fortified church. Check availability before your visit, as last-minute changes are possible. Alternatively, a self-guided historical trail through the village starts at the town hall. Its stops include the gatehouse, the fortified tower, St. Remigius Church, the Stone House and other historic buildings.

The options offer different focuses: a guided tour explores the fortified church and its surroundings, while the trail takes in several historic buildings in the village. If you would like to connect the stops independently, the trail has a clear starting point at the town hall.

Culture and nature in Weil der Stadt

In Weil der Stadt, a planetary trail follows a hiking route in the northern Würm Valley. The Kepler Society created it with the town in spring 2012. Information boards about the Sun and the inner planets Mercury, Venus, Earth and Mars are located within the municipal area of Weil der Stadt. The trail is 10.1 kilometres long; walking time alone is about 2¾ hours. The route includes a Neptune endpoint in neighbouring Tiefenbronn. The planetary trail can also be explored by bicycle.

The Kepler Museum is located in Weil der Stadt, in the birthplace of astronomer Johannes Kepler (1571–1630). Some of his major works are on display there, mostly in original editions. Modern presentation techniques, computer simulations and video presentations explain scientific fundamentals. Historical works and engaging ways of presenting them are brought together.

The Weil der Stadt Town Museum presents the town’s history as an immersive chronicle across 15 rooms on three floors. The ground floor focuses on the political history of the imperial city of Weil: the exhibition spans the Middle Ages to the end of its immediate imperial status in 1802.

The Carnival Museum explains why Weil der Stadt has been considered a stronghold of carnival since the 17th century and how Swabian-Alemannic Fastnacht became mixed with Rhenish-Franconian carnival there. Life-size figures bring the different groups of the Weiler Fasnet to life.

Discover more destinations: Renningen, Waldenbuch, Nufringen, Gärtringen, Schönaich, Aidlingen, Bondorf, Sindelfingen.

For the overview of the wider area: Böblingen.