Worth seeing and knowing about the landscape and surroundings
Landscapes:
PalmbachÂ
Palmbach is a new foundation of the Waldensians. On February 4, 1701, they received permission from Duke Eberhardt Ludwig of Württemberg to settle in his land. They were given 360 acres of overgrown farmland, meadows and some small woodland between Grünwettersbach, Stupferich and Langensteinbach.
At the time, Grünwettersbach was located in a small Württemberg enclave in Baden and belonged to the Oberamt Neuenbürg. After the Thirty Years' War and the Palatinate War of Succession, the village, which still had 80 inhabitants in 1630, had only 30 inhabitants, while the village of Untermutschelbach, also in Württemberg, still had nine.
35 mostly poor Waldensian families arrived in the new homeland, 28 of them were assigned to Grünwettersbach, where they founded the new settlement of La Balme, meaning "refuge", later spelled Balmbach, in memory of their old homeland. The remaining families found a place to stay in Untermutschelbach. In 1806, Grünwettersbach and Palmbach became part of Baden.
The first place of worship in Palmbach was a small wooden church built in 1725 under Pastor Jaques Resplendin, who had taken over the parish in 1720. The church had to be rebuilt in 1906.
The French language was used until around 1810, and until 1821 the pastor of Palmbach also looked after the Waldensians in Untermutschelbach.
The Waldensian Trail , a cultural and historical trail dedicated to the history of the Waldensians, was created in 2015.
Grünwettersbach and Palmbach become Baden
The next important event took place in 1806, when a record in the municipal archives states that on October 19, 1806, "Grünwettersbach was exchanged to Baden-Durlach by His Royal Majesty of Württemberg Friedrich II". From this day on, Grünwettersbach and Palmbach were Baden, now belonging to the nearby official town of Durlach.
Further information at http://www.karlsruhe.de/b4/stadtteile/bergdoerfer/palmbach/geschichte.de
Buildings worth seeing, taken from the list of monuments of the city of Karlsruhe
- Council and school building from 1902, now the Baden School Museum
- Protestant Waldensian church, neo-Gothic, dated 1906, replacing a previous building, which is still commemorated by two wooden inscription plaques from 1725. Historic stained glass window. Choir rebuilt in 1949 after destruction. The rectory dates from the same period.
Stupferich Excerpt from history:
Around the year 1100, "Stutpferrich" is first mentioned in a document; the name indicates that it was set up as a facility for horse breeding. Hirsau Abbey is the patron saint of the Stupferich church, which is dedicated to St. Cyriacus. At the end of the 13th century, the margraves of Baden became the feudal lords of the village. From 1307, Herrenalb Abbey owned the whole of Stupferich, which was bought back by Margrave Philipp I in 1526. In 1535, Stupferich falls to Margrave Bernhard IV of Baden-Baden when the margraviate is divided and therefore remains Catholic.
Further information at http://www.karlsruhe.de/b4/stadtteile/bergdoerfer/stupferich/geschichte.de
Buildings worth seeing, taken from the list of monuments of the city of Karlsruhe
- Several half-timbered houses in Kleinsteinbacher and Karlsbader Straße, Ortsstraße and Palmbacher Straße
- Catholic parish church, the core of the tower is medieval, the nave was rebuilt in 1759.
- Various wayside crosses in the village and surrounding area
Author's tip
Refreshment stops:
Palmbach: Waldenserschänke, Schmalztöpfle
Stupferich: Restaurant Akropolis, Sonne, Indian restaurant Haveli
Directions
Stage 3: From Ochsenstraße to Thomashof (approx. 7 km)
Start: Palmbach, bus stop "Auf der Römerstraße" (lines 47, 27)
The walk first leads through the industrial area to Ochsenstraße, then on to the country road between Stupferich and Busenbach, which is crossed at the traffic lights. Follow the signs for "Steinig" or "Oberer Steinig".
On clear days, this section of the trail offers a mountain panorama of the northern Black Forest, the Schwanner Warte and the Alb Valley. One mountain in particular stands out due to its conical shape: the Mahlberg (612 m) near Moosbronn. The wide plateau belongs to Kaltenbronn with its upland moor and is almost 1000 m high. The tower belongs to Büchenbronn near Pforzheim.
We now pass the Stupferich barbecue area and cross under the highway. At the signpost "Im Steinig" we meet the Schwarzwald-Nordrandweg, which we now follow for a short distance in the direction of "Gänsäcker", "Thomashof". We now enter the Stupferich forest. The border between Stupferich and Mutschelbach runs along a path parallel to the Nordrandweg. Some boundary stones can be found at the "Gänsäcker" crossroads by walking down the path a little to the right to the next crossroads. Back on the Nordrandweg, we pass through a small orchard with vineyards. From here, you can again see part of the Black Forest and the village of Mutschelbach as well as the A8 highway. Now you enter the forest again and descend into the side valley of the Bocksbach stream. There you have to cross the road to Kleinsteinbach or Stupferich, which is somewhat confusing at this point. Take particular care here! The next signpost "Dreimärker" can be found after a short climb on the border between Stupferich and Kleinsteinbach. The signpost points to a special boundary stone (Dreimärker = 3 borders meet here, Durlach, Stupferich and Kleinsteinbach). Unfortunately, the stone can no longer be found. Continuing along the Nordrandweg, we come to the "Thomashof Forsthaus". There we leave the Nordrandweg.
The Thomashof recently turned 300 years old. It was built by a Bavarian woodcutter, but became more of a tavern. A charcoal pile was built there to mark the anniversary.
Today, the Thomashof is home to a Mennonite conference and meeting center.
There are several viewpoints and benches along the way at the edge of the forest. On a clear day, you can also enjoy a view of the Black Forest mountains here, just like at Steinig.
From the Dreimärker, we follow the border again, here between Stupferich and Durlach. A beautiful boundary stone (picture) can be found along the way.
Continue a short distance past the conference center until you reach the crossroads. The bus stop "Thomashof" (line 23) is on the right-hand side.
Equipment
Suitable footwear, camera, binoculars, drinks for on the way.
Safety instructions
Take care when crossing the Stupferich - Kleinsteinbach country road.
Book recommendations by the author
A brochure with explanations and the hiking map is available at the office of the Black Forest Association Wettersbach e.V., Am Wetterbach 48, 76228 Karlsruhe. (while stocks last)
Further information
