Newsletter May 2022
Dear Travel Colleagues,

Traditions in SouthWest Germany range from types of food, such as the ravioli-like Maultaschen and delicious Kaesespaetzle, BaWue's mac n' cheese, to preservation of important castles that belonged to families and dynasties who shaped the lands. Monasteries too played an important role in establishing centers of religion, teaching, art and architecture, and the making of wine and beer. Entrepreneurialism and industry are also hallmarks of SouthWest Germany and many global brands are still headquartered in the state. Good traditions are worth holding on to and help to define a culture. Many of these characteristics and cultural achievements can be discovered in SouthWest Germany today as they are successfully blended with present day life. In this newsletter, we talk about the strong trait of entrepreneurialism as evidenced in the successful department store, Breuningers. Headquartered in Stuttgart, the upscale retailer has spread throughout Germany. We also present the ancient UNESCO world heritage site of Reichenau, a beautiful monastery island in the middle of Lake Constance, as well as the monastery and palace of Bebenhausen as places of historic influence and importance. The Upper Swabia Baroque route is one of many historic biking and hiking trails where you can follow paths to history and discovery.

Happy spring!

Victoria Larson
Island of Reichenau @Helmut Scham
Birthplace of Western Horticulture: the Island of Reichenau

Nearly 1,200 years ago the Monk Walahfrid Strabo from Reichenau published the small booklet, “Hortulus – About the Care of Gardens.” This was the first ever European publication dedicated to giving advice on gardening. On the strength of these 24 verses, which concern just as many varieties of plant, the island of Reichenau - a World Heritage Site - earned its title as the birthplace of Western horticulture. Reichenau is still recognized as such today. The vegetable-covered island with its greenhouses and vineyards and its three churches, which have been awarded World Heritage status, is a dream destination for anyone blessed with those famous “green fingers.” An herb garden which was established according to the verses in “Hortulus” reminds us of the long tradition of gardening on the island of Reichenau. The island is easily reached by travelling over the raised dam by bike, on foot or by bus. Visitors might otherwise enjoy travelling to the island by boat, and there are many ferries that criss-cross Lake Constance from various points around the lake.
Monastery and Palace of Bebenhausen C. Staatliche Schloesser und Gaerten @Guenther Bayerl
Bebenhausen Monastery: Where Baden-Wuerttemberg was Built

Set in a peaceful valley, Bebenhausen monastery is one of the best-preserved Cistercian abbeys in southern Germany. In the 13th century, it developed into one of the wealthiest monasteries in the region. From 1868 onwards, parts of the monastery were converted into a royal hunting palace, which became a favorite venue for the monarchs and their entourages. But Bebenhausen Monastery and Palace is much more than a home for monks and pupils, dukes and kings. It is also a place of democracy. After the second World War, the parliament of Württemberg-Hohenzollern held its sessions there. Württemberg-Hohenzollern was one of three governing zones which would be fused to form the state of Baden-Württemberg in 1952. The parliament was adamant about uniting the zones to form one state, and its subjects supported it with 90% voting in favor of unification. The parliament of Württemberg-Hohenzollern worked from Bebenhausen Monastery and Palace for five years, until the first government of Baden-Württemberg was formed. All plenary sessions were held in the winter refectory. It was the only large enough room that could be heated at the time. The different parties each had meeting rooms in the palace and many delegates would sleep in the former monks’ cells in the dormitory, as sessions tended to extend late into the evening. 


Breuninger Department Store Presents Luxury @Breuninger
Unique Shopping Experiences Have a Home in Germany

When Eduard Breuninger opened his store in 1881 with three workers, it was not known at the time that he was laying the cornerstone for one of the most successful stores in Europe with 12 stores throughout Germany. Until now the diversity of Breuninger’s products, its exclusive panache, the extraordinary services, locations and innovative gastronomy concepts make shopping at Breuninger a special and memorable experience. Inspired by a trip to the United States, Breuninger was the first department store in Germany to introduce escalators, elevators and one of the largest tailoring shops in the 1950s. The key requirement, in the family’s opinion, was and has been ever since, complete customer satisfaction. Right in the middle of the capital city of Stuttgart on the luxurious market square, Breuninger welcomes its customers and clients to its beautiful six story building. It is a shopping experience where you can find everything from established global brands to exciting newcomers. Services are plentiful from the start with a shuttle service to the store, a tailoring atelier and a private shopping team. For enjoyable shopping breaks, you can eat in the store’s cafe with home-made delicacies, pastries and cakes, cocktails and mocktails. In Freiburg, visitors can experience the Breuninger world with private shopping and beauty experiences all the while experiencing a unique view of the Freiburg cathedral, the city’s beautiful landmark. The motto at the rooftop bar is: Drinks with a view.

Parts of the Cuckoo Clocks waiting to be placed in their casements @ TMBW
The Art of Clock-Making in the Black Forest

The first Black Forest wooden clocks were made in the second half of the 17th century. Around 1840 there were around 1,000 watchmaker workshops with around 5,000 employees in the Black Forest between St. Georgen and Lenzkirch. Around 600,000 "wooden watches" were made every year. In 1850 the first watchmaking school was opened in Furtwangen to improve the training of the apprentices. After 1850 the first watch factories developed. In the middle of the 19th century there was overproduction and therefore a drastic drop in prices. At the beginning of the 20th century, Junghans in Schramberg was the largest watch factory in the world. In the last decades of the 20th century, however, most Black Forest clock factories had to close their doors. Production shifted to the Far East. Today, clock production in the Black Forest is mainly specialized in niches. In addition to the world-famous cuckoo clock in all variants, this includes handmade wrist and designer clocks, grandfather clocks and jewelry clocks.
On the Way to Aulendorf along the Upper Swabia Route @TMGS by Raatz
Pedaling the Upper Swabian Baroque Route

Magnificence, splendor and cherubs - bike tour along the Upper Swabian Baroque Route
The impressive library hall in the former Bad Schussenried monastery is a rococo jewel and one of the main attractions on the Upper Swabian Baroque Route. Over 860 kilometers, this connects around 55 baroque sights. Anyone who loves opulent architecture and likes to get around on two wheels can use one of the many cycle paths along the route for an exploratory tour. For example, the Oberschwaben-Allgäu cycle path between Aulendorf and Bad Saulgau, which also heads for the Schussenried monastery. In Aulendorf, Doris Schenk, alias Countess Paula, guides castle guests through their everyday life in the late 19th century while chatting. And in the Siessen monastery in Bad Saulgau, which is still inhabited by Franciscan nuns, the monastery garden, shop and café as well as an exhibition of the famous Hummel figurines await interested guests.
Victoria Larson
Representative
SouthWest Germany
Natalie Dietl
Overseas Marketing and Sales Manager
SouthWest Germany