State Festival Days – Baden-Württemberg Heritage Days
Oberkirch, located in the Renchtal valley amidst the vineyards, is preparing for a festive weekend: the State Festival Days begin on Friday, September 11, with the presentation of the Baden-Württemberg Heritage Medal by the Minister-President of Baden-Württemberg, Cem Özdemir, followed by a weekend-long celebration
State Festival Days from September 11 to 13 in Oberkirch (Renchtal) – "Home is where good things are created"! (ENGLISH, DEUTSCH, FRANÇAIS, NEDERLANDS)
Oberkirch. The State Festival Days are just around the corner in Oberkirch. A grand celebration is set for September 11–13. The festive weekend kicks off on Friday with the presentation of the Baden-Württemberg Heritage Medal by the state's Minister-President, Cem Özdemir. This is followed by "Children’s and Traditions Day" on Saturday, featuring a traditional customs evening and the Grand Tattoo (*Großer Zapfenstreich*) ceremony. The atmosphere will become a colorful spectacle as members of clubs, artisan guilds, folk dance groups, and associations don their festive traditional costumes, tune their instruments, and launch the grand state festival parade on Sunday, September 13. The parade will wind its way through the historic old town. We will be there to cover the event!
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| Schauenburg Castle was built in the 11th century by Duke Berthold II of Zähringen. The ruins of this spur castle—a German cultural landmark—sit above the town of Oberkirch. Photo: Helga Waess (Archive) |
Oberkirch in the Rench Valley
It takes just over two hours and 45 minutes to reach the Rench Valley, provided the roads are clear. Admittedly, the drive through the region can feel long when the autobahn is congested. The route takes us toward Augsburg, Ulm, Stuttgart, and Baden-Baden, and a bit further on toward Basel. The final leg of the journey to the Rench Valley follows smaller roads. The route passes through Achern, Ulm (referring here to the well-known "beer village" of Ulm) and Haslach, goes past Tiergarten—home to Ullenburg Castle—and continues toward Oberkirch. (Incidentally, Ullenburg Castle, first mentioned in Oberkirch’s archives in 1070, was demolished as early as the late 18th century; masonry stones from it can still be found here and there in local houses.) The drive through the Rench Valley offers a lovely glimpse of local agriculture: starting with cornfields and herds of white cattle grazing on lush green meadows, the landscape shifts to reveal a sea of fruit trees. Green vineyards also appear here and there along the edges, romantically framing the valley of the Rench River.
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| High up in the vineyard – view toward Strasbourg and the Vosges Mountains. Photo: Helga Waess |
The state festival celebrations are part of the *Heimattage* (regional heritage days) that defined the year 2026 in the Renchtal valley
The region celebrates its special achievements—bringing fine wines, artisanal spirits, vibrant strawberries, cherries, apples, and—in season—colorful pumpkins to market. Then there is the delicious Baden cuisine: everyone raves about the fresh pumpkin seed soup, and the Black Forest cherry cake is a must-try here. Afterward, visitors can explore the Grimmelshausen exhibition at the museum of the same name or join local guided tours that offer unique experiences.
Brass bands, choirs, readings, theater performances, and lively music are all part of the culture in Renchtal—a region that seems to have invented the art of celebration, constantly offering something new with events like the Strawberry Festival or various wine festivals. Local artists, craftspeople, and photographers capture these moments for posterity. Wine hikes, the *Brennersteig* and *Renchtalsteig* trails, leisurely cycling, the *Mühlbachpfad* path, or a fine mountain bike tour offer visitors fresh perspectives on this beautiful region.
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| Ringelbach, situated in the heart of the vineyards, offers this spot for a rest. Photo: Helga Waess |
The *Heimattage* (Heritage Days)—an initiative launched by the state of Baden-Württemberg in 1978—aim to strengthen community spirit and a sense of togetherness within the region
A different municipality or region hosts the Heritage Days each year. Preserving local customs and fostering community are top priorities, and even the youngest members of the community get involved.
This year, the municipality of Oberkirch in the Rench Valley devised a varied program of events. Since May, the focus has been on the motto: "Home is where good things are created!" In Oberkirch, this translates to "world-class literature, the people of the valley, artistic and culinary delights, and intellectual stimulation."
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| Fruit trees near Tiergarten, Oberkirch; photo: Helga Waess |
Oberkirch has held town charter rights for 700 years and the right to distill spirits for 300 years
... these milestones, along with the 350th anniversary of the death of writer Hans Jakob Christoffel von Grimmelshausen, are the focus of attention in the valley surrounding the Rench River. Literary works, artisanal excellence, culinary highlights, and exquisite wines offer visitors something new to discover at every turn.
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| Grapevines – view of Ringelbach; photo: Helga Waess |
The poet Grimmelshausen lived in Oberkirch-Gaisbach from 1649 to 1668.
He helped put Oberkirch on the map of world literature.
Hans Jakob Christoffel von Grimmelshausen—who made the Ortenau region his adopted home—died in Renchen 350 years ago. Oberkirch is honoring its world-renowned writer with a special Grimmelshausen exhibition.
This is the place where Grimmelshausen wrote his *Simplicissimus* in 1669. One of the most famous poets of the Baroque era, his full name was Hans Jakob Christoffel von Grimmelshausen. Throughout the Rench Valley—where Grimmelshausen left his mark while serving as a local magistrate and innkeeper—many sites serve as reminders of this chapter in local history.
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| A break in the vineyards at Ullenburg – Strasbourg lies in the direction of the horizon, Photo: Helga Waess |
You can get there relatively quickly—even from Munich—for a long weekend!
The town’s tranquility, the atmosphere of the vineyards, the poet’s history, and the friendly locals make it easy to understand why people have always vacationed here and in the UNESCO World Heritage site of Baden-Baden—the "summer capital."
You can get here relatively quickly—even from Munich—for a long weekend!
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The spa park in Baden-Baden awaits its guests; photo: Helga Waess |
Not far from France, close to Baden-Baden, and just a stone's throw from the Black Forest
It is a wonderful place to relax; regional cuisine and local fruit and wine varieties help you quickly find a sense of inner peace in the Renchtal valley... and the High Black Forest invites you to go hiking, too!
