Wimpfen is situated opposite the mouth of the river Jagst at the borderline of the regions of Kraichgau, the Hohenlohe plains and the Neckar basin. Early settlement is unclear, but from the 5th century BC onwards small inhabited areas and early stoneage villages can be traced. Important the early settlement, besides the good soil, was its closeness to an ancient people’s road...
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Wimpfen’s history becomes more substantial with the invasion of the Romans. In the second half of the 1st century AD, having defeated the Gauls and arriving at the Rhine and Danube rivers, the Romans under Emperor Domitian began correcting the borders of the area, eventually conquering the so-called Decumat country. This new border of the Roman empire, also called the upper...
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We only know little about Wimpfen’s history in the Franconian Kingdom. It is certain that the Francs brought Christianity, and since the settlement at the Neckar bridge continued to play an important role, we can guess that a church was built on the remains of the Roman “Prätoriums” very early on. In connection with the construction of the first church in the valley,...
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The first church, which had been destroyed, was later rebuilt and enlarged and was consecrated to Saint Peter, who was also the patron saint of the cathedral of Worms and of the diocese. The church was from then on part of an influential chancel chapter, whose provost was also arch-deacon of Worms and held the clerical court between Heidelberg and Kirchheim/Neckar. The noble-men...
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The origins of this town on the hill lie hidden in the past. Although reports that the Celts are said to have built a castle on the hillcrest above the River Neckar as a refuge and that the Romans erected a shrine to Diana and a temple to Mercury are credible, they can no more be proven than the existence of a Merowingian Castle. Archaeological findings in the Town Church do, however, support the...
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With the end of the Staufer Age a time of political test began for Bad Wimpfen. The bishops of Worms who had never stopped stressing their claims on Wimpfen as well as the mighty masters of Weinsberg who had acquired large amounts of property in town now tried to gain power over this politically important place. Wimpfen not only maintained its independence it also gained more and more rights,...
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The 30-Years-War meant a disaster and accelerated the decline of this once so proud imperial town although the peasants‘ wars had spared the town before. In 1622 one of the war’s biggest battles was fought before the town gates, in which General Tilly defeated the count of Baden, Magnus, the brother of Duke Johann Friedrich of Württemberg died and which plays a role in...
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With this new order, a slow and modest, but nevertheless continual rise began. In 1817 the salt-works Ludwigshalle was founded – in a different place and finally successfully. And the brine which was found at this place was the reason for Wimpfen gradually becoming a popular spa. The beginning of this development was the hotel Mathildenbad which was established in 1835, a world-famous...
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The fact that Wimpfen was now an exclave of Hesse about 100 km away from the seat of government and at least 40 km outside the state boundary was the reason for its special role in the Grand duchy and later also in Hesse. The town with its surrounding forest area remained an independent territory between Württemberg and Baden which was respected as “the pearl in the crown of...
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May 1952 the ceremonial annexation took place: since then, Bad Wimpfen has officially belonged to the state of Baden-Württemberg even though the legal situation isn’t completely clear yet.

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The advertising slogan “modern spa - romantic holiday resort – Feel the past and enjoy the present ” characterizes the economic pillars of the town. Today’s modern spa-center is the result of an intensive development in recent years. At the center of the enterprise concept is the medical-therapeutical output according to tried and tested principles and the comprehensive...
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