Mystical alleys and eerie legends – on the night watchman tours in Baden-Württemberg, cities like Heidelberg, Esslingen or Rottweil appear in a different light.
Equipped with a lantern, halberd and dressed in traditional medieval clothing, the guides on the night watchman tours walk with their guests through narrow streets and dark backyards, past historical buildings and mysterious locations. They tell stories from bygone times – about robbers, witches and hidden treasures. Such tours not only offer an exciting look into the past, but also allow participants to immerse themselves in a bygone era in which the night was still full of eerie dangers.
Night Watchman & Co., Heidelberg
On the “Night Watchman & Co.” tour you can experience the Heidelberg of past centuries. During this journey through time by lantern light, the night watchman in historical thread tells of the devastating fires, wars and floods that shaped the fate of the city over the centuries and have left their mark on buildings and streets to this day.
Where and when? Meeting point at the old bridge at Brückenaffen, Heidelberg, October 11th, October 18th and October 25th, from 9 p.m. to 10.30 p.m., October 12th and October 19th from 8 p.m. to 9.30 p.m. Ticket prices: adults 16 euros, children up to 17 years ten euros, children up to six years free and without registration. Number of participants limited to 30 people. Booking and details on the Heidelberg Night Watchman website.
Night Watchman’s Stories, Esslingen am Neckar
When it gets dark in the imperial city, the Esslingen night watchman, equipped with a lantern and halberd, makes his rounds. He lets himself be accompanied on the tour “Listen, people and let us tell you… – Night watchman’s stories”. The walkers learn that the fate of the entire city used to depend on the watchful eyes of the watchmen and night watchmen: when everyone was asleep, they looked after it to ensure that no fire or enemy troops destroyed the houses. They also had to prevent “nighttime swarming, gross mischief, noise in the village and theft.” The night watchman tour is an entertaining journey into the world of Esslingen’s history.
Where and when? Duration one and a half hours, appointments can be requested from Esslinger Stadtmarketing, Marktplatz 16, 73728 Esslingen am Neckar, telephone 0711/396939-69 and by email.
Eerily beautiful – the classic, Because of the City
The stories of the two night watchmen are funny, full of punchlines, but also thought-provoking. On their evening tours through the historic old town, they shed light on medieval life in Weil der Stadt. The highlights are the inspection of the city wall and the visit to the dungeon in the Red Tower.
Where and when: Meeting point Rathausarkaden at Marktplatz 4, Weil der Stadt, Friday, October 18th, 8 p.m., costs seven euros for adults, children up to 14 years free. Book on the Weil der Stadt website.
Out and about with the night watchman in Besigheim
Experience the barren world of the night and tower watchmen up close – the night watchman, together with the tower keeper, once ensured the safety of the residents in pitch-dark Besigheim. On his tour through the winding streets, he talks about his numerous tasks and duties and gives deep insights into this barren world: from its beginnings to the 1930s.
Where and when? Meeting point Marktplatz, Besigheim, December 14th, at 5 p.m., duration around an hour and a half. Price per person six euros, reduced rate four euros. More details and booking on the Website of the city of Besigheim.
Night watchman tour, Villingen-Schwenningen
In ancient times, the night watchman announced the hour and ensured peace and security within the city walls. During the evening tour of the Black Forest city, he also opens up many other chapters from Villingen’s history: hygiene, whores, lighting and sieges. The participants can be excited.
Where and when? Meeting point Franziskaner Kulturzentrum, Rietgasse 2/1, Villingen-Schwenningen, Saturday, October 26th, from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. and Thursday, November 21st, from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., 13 euros for adults. More details on the Website of the city of Villingen-Schwenningen.
Group tour of Rottweil, historic city center
Halberd, lantern and gate key – this is how the night watchman in Rottweil awaits his guests for their nightly tour. He has a lot to tell, for example about the tragic incident in 1696, when a devastating city fire destroyed almost 100 houses and claimed two lives. The night watchman also reveals a lot of other things while they are together.
Where and when? Historic city center, meeting point Hauptstraße, 78628 Rottweil, appointments on request by phone 0741/494-280 and by email.
The night watchman from Waiblingen can be accompanied on his tour through the alleys of the old town. He talks about the tasks he had to carry out night after night in the dark. Life in the city is vividly told at various stations. These are stories and anecdotes from long-forgotten days, from people and their masters, from citizens and shady characters.
Where and when? Scheuerngasse 4, 71332 Waiblingen. The tour takes place from October to March. The next event is Saturday, October 19th, from 8 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Can be booked via Website of bwegt.de.
On the trail of the night watchman, Weinheim
The Weinheim night watchman tells vivid and sometimes somewhat creepy anecdotes and stories about the “nightlife” of days gone by, when the night watchman was still something like the later patrol police.
Where and when? Market square fountain in front of the Old Town Hall, October 16th and November 13th, at 8 p.m., only with prior registration at the city of Weinheim, Tourist Information, telephone 06201/82-610 and by email.
If you want, you can round off the tour with a “night watchman feast” in the “Diebsloch” restaurant on the market square in Weinheim. Can be booked in the restaurant by phone 06201/67346, email.
Night watchman tour in the half-timbered town of Zavelstein
The walk through the old streets and corners of Zavelstein is exciting. When the nightly shadows of the street lamps dance on the walls of the half-timbered houses, the stories of times long past seem even more eerie. A worthwhile journey to medieval times in what was once the smallest city in Germany.
Where and when? Zavelstein Market Square, 75385 Bad Teinach-Zavelstein; Dates: October 12th, November 16th and December 21st from 8:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. Booking and details on the website Black Forest Tourism. Unfortunately, the night watchman tour cannot take place in bad weather.
