The Medieval Wine Town of Esslingen Am Neckar, Esslingen am Neckar, Germany

When Americans think about traveling to Europe, they have an image in their heads of fairy-tale like towns that will transport them back to a time long since gone. They imagine towns with cobbled-stoned streets, colorful half-timbered buildings and perhaps a Knight in Shining Armour. But many don’t realize, nor can imagine the wrath of destruction that destroyed so much of Germany during the Second World War. However, there were a few towns and cities that managed to escape the fury of one of the most ruinous wars Europe had ever seen. The small town of Esslingen am Neckar is just one of those perfect examples of medieval towns that escaped unscathed.

Just a short train ride away, or even a quick 15 minute drive from Stuttgart, Esslingen am Neckar is a town few have ever heard of. But have no fear, it’s worth every ounce of effort to make it to this adorable little town.

Nestled in a valley surrounded by endless rows of vineyards along the Neckar river, Esslingen is the epitome of historic German towns.

Perhaps one of the best aspects, and one of my absolute favorite things about Germany, is the preservation of colorful historic half-timbered houses.Esslingen is home to over 200 historic half-timbered houses that date back to the Middle Ages which are a fine example of how wealthy the town was during this time. Over the course of the history of the town, it developed from a small pilgrimage site, to a market town to finally a north-south trading route which allowed wealth and power to flow through the town. Today, the half-timbered houses in Esslingen are the oldest inhabited buildings in Germany. ...... (follow the instructions below for accessing the rest of this article).