At 12 places along the Waldensian Trail, 24 illustrated panels tell the
the history of the Waldensians and the historical sites of our village.
sites of our village.
Waldensian Trail commemorates flight and expulsion
We invite you to discover the history of the flight and expulsion on the
approx. 1,100 meter long Waldensian Trail through the center of the village. 24
display boards at 12 locations provide information about the historical sites of
Palmbach and the history of the Waldensians. The
The new Waldensian memorial "Gate of Arrival" symbolizes the expulsion
and the faith of the Waldensians. It was designed by the artists Barbara Jäger
and OMI Riesterer and has found its place at the new Waldensian
Waldensian Square on the Palmbacher Talstraße. The center of the
Waldensian Way is the Waldensian Church.
Who were the Waldensians?
The Waldensians go back to the wealthy merchantPetrus Valdesfrom
Lyon, who, at the end of the 12th century, had the Bible translated into the vernacular
and, after renouncing his fortune, preached the gospel as a layman.
preached the gospel as a layman. As a result, the Waldensians were condemned as heretics by the Catholic
condemned and persecuted as heretics by the Catholic Church.
In 1698, around 3,000 French Waldensians and Huguenots were expelled from what is now
Huguenots were expelled from what is now Piedmont because of their
were expelled. The Waldensians were settled in southern Hesse and Württemberg.
were settled. 450 of them were taken in by Landgrave Ernst Ludwig von
Hesse-Darmstadt and settled near Mörfelden, including the later
included the later Palmbach Waldensians. As there were too few
fields to cultivate, the Waldensians asked in1701for
admission to the Duchy of Württemberg. Fourteen years before the founding of
Karlsruhe, the Waldensians received a grant from Duke Eberhard Ludwig of
Württemberg, the brother-in-law of the later founder of the city of Karlsruhe, Margrave
Carl Wilhelm, gave them permission to settle on his fallow land in the
in the Grünwettersbach district. At first, the new
settlers did not build permanent houses at first, but only barracks, because they hoped to
return to their old homeland. This hope was not fulfilled.
was not fulfilled.
To Palmbach
Public transportation: You can reach Palmbach within 20 minutes from
Karlsruhe main station forecourt by bus 47, destination Stupferich.
Get off at the Palmbach Kirche stop.
Barrier-free visit:
All areas of the Waldensian Trail
Waldensian Trail, the locations of the steles and the Waldensian Square with the
monument are barrier-free. If you are traveling by public transport,
use the barrier-free bus stop "Palmbach Winterrot".
Guided tours for visitor groups are offered by appointment. We
invite you to explore the history of Palmbach on the Waldensian Trail through the
through the town center. The Waldensian village of Palmbach, today a hilltop district and the eastern gateway to Karlsruhe , is looking forward to your visit.
TIP
When visiting Palmbach, the Baden School Museum in the former Waldensian School is also well worth a visit. See www.badisches-schulmuseum.de. The Waldensian Church is also open to visitors on Sundays. (For visitor groups on weekdays by appointment)
