Bühl: The Plum Town of History and Culinary Delights

If you’re looking for a hotel in Bühl, you can tailor your stay to your interests: the history of the Bühler Frühzwetschge plum, the restaurants around Johannesplatz, or hiking and cycling tours in the region. Bühl is part of the Black Forest Central/North Nature Park. This means there’s plenty to explore, from the town’s history to activities in the holiday region.

Plum Culture and History

Since January 1, 2023, Bühl has officially been known as the “Plum Town.” Bühler Frühzwetschgen plums are sold at regional markets, by direct-to-consumer vendors and in farm shops. At the same time, plum trees are a familiar feature of many orchards and traditional meadow orchards around Bühl. The fruit is therefore both a local product and part of the landscape.

The Bühler Frühzwetschge is said to be the plum discovered in 1840 in Kappelwindeck. Historically, the “plum trains” played an important role: in the 1920s and 1930s, they made Bühl a European center of the plum trade. At the height of the season, up to 100 railway wagons loaded with Bühler Frühzwetschgen left Bühl every day, bound for Germany, Sweden and Switzerland. The story of the discovery and the trade that followed represent different chapters in plum culture: one tells the story of the fruit, the other of how it was marketed beyond the region.

Johannesplatz: A Stream, Cafés and Restaurants

Cafés and restaurants line Johannesplatz, gathered around a small stream in the center of the square. The dining options include cappuccino, homemade Italian ice cream and Asian specialties. The square is a convenient place to stop if you’d like to plan a restaurant visit or a break for coffee and ice cream during your stay.

Nature, Hiking and Vineyards

The Bühl–Bühlertal–Ottersweier holiday region spans around 800 meters in elevation, from valley to summit. Hiking trails in the region are signposted, and cycling through the vineyards is another way to explore Bühl. The two activities offer different experiences: signposts help you find your way on a hike, while a cycling tour takes you through the vineyards.

Culinary experiences are also part of the Bühl–Bühlertal–Ottersweier holiday region. You can enjoy wine tastings at family-run wineries and regional dishes at traditional inns. This lets you balance time spent exploring the landscape with local food and drink, rather than making every activity part of a single focus.

Culture in Kappelwindeck

In Kappelwindeck, you can visit the Baroque church. It offers a distinct cultural point of interest alongside the history of the plum town.

In the Wider Destination of Rastatt

The wider destination of Rastatt also puts local history in the spotlight at the Town Museum. It is housed in a Baroque town palace opposite the Residential Palace. Its permanent exhibitions cover Rastatt’s history over the past 300 years, as well as prehistory and early history. Rastatt Palace was the first Baroque residence built on German soil and was designed after Versailles. Together, these stories trace a path through Rastatt’s history, from its earliest periods to its Baroque residence.

Choose Your Stay Based on Your Interests

The history of the early plum and its trade offers a historical focus, while Johannesplatz is all about dining and life beside the little stream. If you’d like to spend more time outdoors, you can include signposted hiking trails and a cycling tour through the vineyards in your plans. Wine tastings and regional dishes add culinary experiences from the holiday region to the mix.

Discover more destinations: Weisenbach, Durmersheim, Bühlertal, Sinzheim, Lichtenau, Rheinmünster, Loffenau, Steinmauern

See the wider travel guide: Rastatt.