Discover Kuppingen: Churches, Trails and the Onion Cake Festival

Kuppingen combines historic churches with trails through the countryside and a long-standing festival. If you are planning a stay, these different facets may shape your choice of destination: the focus is on architectural history, impressions along the way and local events.

Churches from different periods

The Protestant parish church stands at Knappengasse 21. A cultural monument with a churchyard wall, it was built around 1300 and altered in 1480 and 1961. These dates trace several phases of construction and give the church its own historical context.

St. Anthony’s Church tells a different story of construction. It was built in 1958 by Martin Schilling and his son Hans, architects from Rottenburg am Neckar. During the redesign of the interior in 1989, the former altarpiece was replaced with a monumental mosaic. The work is by Otto Habel of Leinfelden. Thus, a church with medieval origins and a more recent church featuring a striking work of art stand side by side in Kuppingen—two different points of interest for a culturally minded visit.

Exploring on foot or by bike

The Kuppingen Erlebnisweg (Experience Trail) is accessible by car. Parking is available at the cemetery, right at the trail’s main starting point. The Kuppinger Weg, by contrast, runs along the southern edge of the village. It passes through a dry valley known locally as “Schneckennudel.” The panoramic trail along the Kuppinger Weg offers views of the Schönbuch, the Ammertal valley and the Swabian Jura.

If you prefer a cycling route, “Hedgerows and Medieval Walls” is another option. The route crosses Kuppingen, passes through fields and continues to the forest. The route descriptions therefore offer different highlights: a named cycle route through fields and woodland, and trails whose appeal lies, among other things, in the dry valley and the distant views.

Barbecue hut and Onion Cake Festival

The Kuppingen barbecue hut can accommodate around 40 people indoors; there is also a barbecue area outside. If you are taking the capacity into account for a specific plan, check the details in advance, as they may change.

The Onion Cake Festival has been a fixture on Kuppingen’s events calendar since 1976. A report from 2025 describes homemade onion cake and a musical programme. The festival therefore combines a culinary focus with music; if you are planning around specific dates, check the latest event information.

Culture in the wider destination of Herrenberg

Herrenberg also has its own historic and cultural attractions. Herrenberg Collegiate Church was built in two phases: from 1276 to 1293 and from 1471 to 1493. It was completed as the first Gothic hall church in Württemberg. Its features include choir stalls created by Heinrich Schickhardt in 1517 and the oldest rose window in Swabia. The Herrenberg Bell Museum is also located in the church. Its collection spans nine centuries; the large bell chamber houses more than 30 bells that can be rung, as well as a 50-bell carillon.

There are several themed routes for exploring Herrenberg. The half-timbered house trail in the historic old town has 24 stops, with information about the history and construction of the buildings. The Jerg Ratgeb Sculpture Trail leads from the railway station through the old town, past the collegiate church and up to the castle hill; 25 works from the trail are located along the route to the castle hill observation tower. The tower stands on the stump of the former powder tower, and from there the view extends to the Swabian Jura.

Other cultural attractions in Herrenberg include contemporary art and events. The Herrenberg Municipal Gallery presents painting, graphic art, photography and sculpture. The “Sommerfarben” (Summer Colours) cultural festival takes place every year in early July and involves numerous cultural organisations in the town; specific dates and programmes may vary. The music school and church musicians also offer classical concerts. Kuppingen’s churches and trails can thus be considered alongside Herrenberg’s distinct cultural offerings as different highlights of a stay.

For the wider travel overview: Herrenberg.