Discover Bühl: Stream, Fasnet and Renaissance history

Bühl brings together a streamside landscape, Fasnet and historic buildings in the Neckar Valley. The village lies opposite Wurmlinger Chapel, about six kilometers southwest of Tübingen and about four kilometers east of Rottenburg. You can include nature and walking routes around the chapel, local history in Bühl, and additional cultural and garden themes in the wider destination of Tübingen in your travel plans. Bühl’s integration into Tübingen’s local transport network and its bus connection to Rottenburg also provide useful orientation when choosing where to stay.

Streamside landscape and walking routes around Wurmlinger Chapel

Today’s Wurmlinger Chapel is a hall church dating from 1680; its Romanesque crypt dates from the early 12th century. There are circular walking routes around the chapel, the Wurmlinger Chapel nature trail and a wine trail. Different themes come together here: the history of the building, the natural surroundings along the route and viticulture, which has its own dedicated trail.

The Bühlertal stream is also part of the village’s natural landscape. This clear, clean stream is still home to its original fauna, including brown trout, bullhead and the now extremely rare brook lamprey. This diversity of species gives the watercourse particular significance for anyone interested in local nature.

Castle, church and Bühl’s Fasnet

Bühl Castle is a Renaissance castle built by David von Stein in 1554. At St. Pankratius, the octagonal tower with its onion dome, from the former church building, has been preserved. Peter Lang built it in 1599. St. Pankratius is also home to a valuable late Gothic Madonna and Child from Ulm, dated to around 1510–1520. The building’s history and the artwork offer two different ways to explore local culture: preserved architecture and a work of art from the late Gothic period.

Concerts are regularly held under the title “Music at St. Pankratius.” If you are interested, check the latest dates before your trip. It is also worth checking the date of the event in question when planning for Fasnet: every year during the Fasnet season, Bühl holds its traditional Narrensprung. It runs from the old bridge, the “steinere Brückle,” into the Bühlertal stream. Four Bühl Drotzer each carry a symbol representing one of the four seasons as they jump. This seasonal tradition is therefore distinct from the enduring architectural and nature themes.

Transport and things to focus on

Bühl is part of Tübingen’s local transport network and has an excellent bus connection to Rottenburg. Both transport links are useful points of reference when choosing where to stay. You can focus on different things depending on your interests: in Bühl, these include the stream, Narrensprung and historic buildings; the wider destination of Tübingen offers additional museums, old-town and garden themes. Check current bus connections and event dates if your plans depend on them.

More cultural and nature themes in the wider destination of Tübingen

The Museum of Ancient Cultures in Hohentübingen Castle displays, among other things, the oldest works of art created by humanity, including Ice Age art designated a UNESCO World Heritage site. The City Museum, housed in the former Kornhaus in Tübingen’s old town, presents changing exhibitions on the city’s history and current development. Its two permanent exhibitions include themes related to the city’s history and the paper-cut artist Lotte Reiniger. Regular events and museum education programs for children and young people round out the program.

The old town offers another distinctive focus: it is a half-timbered historic center with a total of 350 cultural monuments, romantic squares and winding alleys. The public old-town tour visits major attractions and provides detailed explanations of the city’s history. If you would like to join, check the latest dates.

The Botanical Garden of the University of Tübingen brings together nature and a variety of plant themes. Spread across ten hectares, it is home to almost 10,000 plant species from around the world. The collections are arranged according to geographical, ecological and taxonomic criteria and include, among other things, a medicinal herb garden, a farm garden and showy perennial beds. A circular route of about 0.75 kilometers can be completed on wide paths without steps. Bus routes 5, 13 and 17 go to the garden; check current connections before setting out. Other cultural landmarks in Tübingen include Hölderlin Tower, one of the most important memorial sites in literary history, and traditional flat-bottomed punts that have traveled along the Neckar for centuries.

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