Discover Weil der Stadt: Kepler, the Old Town and Fasnet

Weil der Stadt brings together attractions that can shape a stay in very different ways: the Planet Trail in the northern Würmtal valley, the story of Johannes Kepler, a historic Old Town and Fasnet. If you are looking for a hotel in Weil der Stadt, you can first consider whether an outdoor route or the museums and townscape should be the main focus of your visit.

Planet Trail: astronomy information panels and two ways to explore

The Kepler Society established the Planet Trail in spring 2012 together with the town of Weil der Stadt. It runs along a scenic hiking route in the northern Würmtal valley. Within the town limits, information panels cover the Sun and the rocky planets closest to it: Mercury, Venus, Earth and Mars. The Planet Trail also includes a Neptune endpoint in the neighboring town of Tiefenbronn.

The route is 10.1 kilometers long; the estimated walking time alone is about 2¾ hours. This estimate refers to walking. The route can also be explored by bicycle. This means you can include the Planet Trail in your visit either as a hike or as a cycling route, without confusing the walking time with a cycling time.

Kepler Museum and town history

The Kepler Museum is located in the birthplace of astronomer Johannes Kepler (1571–1630) in Weil der Stadt. Some of his major works are on display there, mostly in original editions. Modern presentation techniques, computer simulations and video screenings convey scientific fundamentals. The biographical setting, the works and the engaging presentations give visitors several ways to explore Kepler’s life and science.

The Weil der Stadt Town Museum, housed in the former Schützhaus on the market square, offers a different perspective on the past. It presents the town’s history as a walk-through chronicle: 15 rooms spread across three floors. The ground floor focuses on the political history of the Imperial City of Weil from the Middle Ages until the end of its status as an immediate imperial city in 1802. Those interested in the town’s development will find a historical sequence here; by contrast, the Kepler Museum focuses on the astronomer and scientific subjects.

Old Town, Fasnet and local culture

In the historic Old Town, narrow lanes and notable half-timbered houses cluster around the Catholic Church of St. Peter and Paul. The townscape complements museum visits with a glimpse of historic streets and architectural styles. Visitors can also experience Weil der Stadt’s traditional Fasnet.

The Fools’ Museum explains why Weil der Stadt has been known as a stronghold of fools since the 17th century and how Swabian-Alemannic carnival has blended with Rhenish-Franconian carnival. Life-size figures illustrate the different groups of Weil’s Fasnet. More than sixty hand puppets from the Hohnstein Puppet Theatre are on display in Meisterin Eva’s Puppet Room. There, the “Weiler Clowns” carnival guild regularly stages plays written by Rudolf Karl himself. Check the current program before visiting. The town’s cultural highlights each offer a different reason to discover Weil der Stadt: Kepler’s science and life story, the town’s political chronicle and its distinctive carnival tradition.

Discover more destinations: Schafhausen, Hausen An Der Würm, Böblingen, Herrenberg, Gärtringen, Nufringen, Schönaich, Steinenbronn.

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