Wiesloch’s story unfolds across different chapters, from Bertha Benz’s journey to medieval fortifications and churches. Visitors interested in culture and historic buildings will find several distinct themes here that can shape their stay.
Pharmacy history and a museum in a defensive tower
On August 5, 1888, Wiesloch pharmacist Ockel supplied Bertha Benz’s Patent-Motorwagen with about three liters of ligroin during her journey from Mannheim to Pforzheim with her sons. This made the Wiesloch City Pharmacy known as the “world’s first filling station.” The City Pharmacy Museum preserves a unique pharmacy interior dating from 1858. A sculpture of Bertha Benz also stands in the Protestant church square.
The Wiesloch Municipal Museum is housed in the medieval defensive tower “Dörndl.” One of its main topics is mining in Wiesloch, which was carried out from Celtic times until the 1950s. The museum offers individually arranged guided tours on request for kindergartens, school classes and groups. Its stated opening hours are Sundays from 2 to 4 p.m.; check the hours before your visit.
The Field Railway and Industrial Museum also brings together architecture and the history of technology. Its listed locomotive shed, including the smoke hoods for steam locomotives, remains in its original 1905 condition. On event days, visitors can ride the “little museum train” along the reconstructed field railway track through the greenery. If you plan to take a ride, check the current events calendar.
Two churches, different periods of construction
St. Laurentius Church was built from 1745 to 1750 and features very lavish Late Baroque furnishings. The high altar was created by Johann Anwander. The Protestant Town Church, by contrast, dates back to the 11th century: it was built as a three-aisled Romanesque pillar basilica. Its surviving tower walls are considered to belong to the oldest church tower in North Baden. A floor window in the nave offers a glimpse into the building’s history.
The contrast shows how varied Wiesloch’s historic traces are: the Late Baroque furnishings shape the view of St. Laurentius, while the design, surviving walls and floor window at the Protestant Town Church offer different ways to explore its history.
Defensive walls, city gates and historic buildings
The remains of the former Wiesloch Royal Castle include a 14th-century defensive tower and parts of the palas. The Freihof also reflects the town’s medieval history: it is the oldest surviving residential building in Wiesloch; its main building belongs to a fortified manor of the von Sickingen family dating from the 14th century. The Sauermillichhaffe defensive tower and the adjacent sections of wall also date from the mid-14th century and form part of the surviving medieval town wall.
A plaque now marks the former site of the Lower Gate, one of the entrances to medieval Wiesloch, which was enclosed by a town wall. At the Upper Gate, a plaque and foundations highlighted in color in the pedestrian zone indicate the former gate tower. The surviving walls and signs marking vanished gates tell different parts of the same town history. The Old Town Hall was rebuilt in 1713. An arched gateway with a 1746 keystone marks the former entrance to the horse-changing station of the Thurn and Taxis princely postal service.
Other historic landmarks can be found in different parts of town: Karel Fron Fountain stands in the market square, built in 1988 to mark the 700th anniversary. A plaque in Synagogengasse commemorates the Jewish community and symbolizes an attempt at reconciliation after the Second World War. These landmarks add public remembrance and art to the town’s architectural history.
Walks and practical planning
If you would like to spend time outdoors as well as explore historic sites, the vineyards southwest of Wiesloch are a great place to go hiking. The WieTalBad outdoor pool is listed as open for the season from May to September; check the current opening days before visiting.
Flexible reservations for the City Pharmacy Museum can be arranged by agreement, with costs depending on the amount of work involved. Check in advance for current reservation options and costs. This way, you can plan cultural visits to suit your interests rather than assume that opening hours, guided tours and event days are guaranteed.
Discover more destinations: Dossenheim, Ladenburg, Dielheim, Neckargemünd, Hemsbach, Heiligkreuzsteinach, Schönau, Altlußheim.
See the regional travel overview: Rhine-Neckar District.
