BESIGHEIM: another surprise find

Besigheim, located in the southern German state of Baden-Württemberg, is a town located at the confluence of the Neckar and Enz rivers. The town is surrounded on three sides by water. The earliest written documentation of Besigheim was dates back to 1153. Its ownership passed through various hands and was ravaged by war numerous times over the centuries. Most of the military occupations were imposed by the French armies, the last of which was during the Napoleonic Wars, which ended in 1815. 

The old town once boasted a castle, but it was destroyed over a period of more than 50 years following Louis XIV's Nine Years' War (War of the Palatine Succession). A couple of towers still remain in the old town amidst a number of other beautiful, historical buildings. I found some of the ancient stone manors found in the town calling me to photograph them. I gladly obliged.

Not only was Besigheim owned by several different German princes, it was for a time owned by the Hapsburgs as well. 

The colorful Fachwerk (half-timbered) buildings are a favorite of mine, which can be found all over Germany. The old Rathaus (Town Hall) above shows an example of this.

It was nice that my first visit there was a sunny autumn day. The creeper making its way all over a number of walls could not have been more splendidly bedecked in glorious shades of reds, yellows and more. The sun and the blue skies made for marvelous backdrops to photographs.

The Schoch Tower, built somewhere around 1200, and the old stone house above are principal landmarks in the upper part of the Old Town.

One of several very old homes located in the upper Old Town. Note the size of the windows and simple carving around the doorway.

Besigheim is definitely worth the visit. It can be reached from Stuttgart Hauptbahnhof (main station) via the R4 line within approximately 25 minutes. Trains leave every 30 minutes on the quarter hour.

University of Tübingen (Universität Tübingen) - an ancient tradition of learning

As I make my way out of Stuttgart (with return visits to be expected), I have found myself south of the city seeing other parts of this southern-most federal state in Germany - besides Bavaria next door, of course. This part of the state is the heart of Swabia (or Schwaben), where a dialect is spoken that not all in other parts of Germany may completely understand - certainly I don't - but of course, I am not a native speaker of German. 
I found this ancient university a very special place. There is just way too much to photograph and post. I have chosen only a few of the shots I have taken. You will need to visit this place yourself to get the full effect and see some of the other angles that are missing in this posting.
It, like so much else in Germany, is worth the visit!

The University

The University of Tübingen, known formally as Eberhard Karls Universität Tübingen, located in the state of Baden-Württemberg, Germany, is one of Europe's oldest institutes of higher learning. Founded in 1477 by Count (later Duke) Eberhard "the Bearded" of Württemberg, the school was opened with four faculties: Theology, Law, Medicine, and Philosophy. More faculties were added over the centuries. 

Market Square

Tübingen was the first German university to establish a university hospital in 1805, housing it in what is the university's oldest structure, dating back to 1478. This same building is still in use by the hospital today. 26,000 students from across the Federal Republic of Germany, Europe, and many corners of the world make up its diverse student body. 

Ornate facade of the Tübingen Rathaus (City Hall)

View of the roof facade of the Rathaus. 

View of the Rathaus balcony

Half-timber joists found in so many of the medieval structure found in Tübingen

Fountain in the Market Square

Rathaus as seen from one of the many narrow streets

One of two smaller tributaries which flow directly through the city of Tübingen into the
Neckar River below the city

View of the Wilhelmsstift to the left

Schloss Hohentübingen

The center of the university "town" of 90,000 is still most reminiscent of the Middle Ages. Tübingen lies on and above the Neckar River, making its way up the hill toward the castle-fortress above the city. There, one will find Schloß Hohentübingen, begun in 1078, which is also used today as the university museum - a must-see for any visitor to Tübingen.

Square outside of the Castle entrance

Entrance to Schloß Hohentübingen

Details of the entrance gate to the castle

         

Schloß Hohentübingen

In the Castle courtyard

From the Castle

View of the Neckar River as taken from the Castle of Hohentübingen
looking in the direction of the Schwäbisch Alb

A "Stocherkahn", or punt, unique to Tübingen on the Neckar River

The beautiful allée that runs the length of Neckarinseln (Neckar Island)
 which is located in the middle of the Neckar River directly below the castle,
Schloß Hohentübingen

Tübingen - a university on the water

The Neckar River wends its way throughout the Württemberg region of southern Germany.
It has played an endearing role throughout the history not only of the university town
of Tübingen, but the entire region itself.

Not unlike Venice

Punts have been a part of Tübingen's river-life and scenery for ages. Students, locals and tourists alike have long enjoyed these low-slung boats for cruising the lovely river, enjoying picnics, cocktails, a bottle of champagne, and even playing their musical instruments directly on these pleasure crafts as they slowly "pole" their way through the water.

A black and white perspective:

 The colors of a late afternoon as autumn approaches:

Tübingen is most certainly worth the visit. It boasts one of the oldest universities in all of Germany, founded in 1477.  (See the official website of the university for more information on the school: University of Tübingen )

How to get there from Stuttgart, capital of the state of Baden-Württemberg: The Road to Tübingen