Oldtimer Bus Tour on Sunday, July 15

Dear Members and Guests,

We invite you to join us on Saturday, July 15 for a bus tour to the Hohenstaufen by Göppingen. We will meet at 13:30 on the parking lot to the left of the Plochingen train station (for further details see map on page 2). From the parking lot an Oldtimer Bus (a former Post Tour Bus from Switzerland) will take us to Hohenstaufen.The Bus leaves at 14:00 sharp.

Hohenstaufen – the family seat. Around 1070, Friedrich I of Schwaben, who later became a Staufer duke, commissioned the construction of Hohenstaufen Castle in this strategically favourable location. There is evidence that Emperor Friedrich Barbarossa stayed here in 1181. Right into the late Middle Ages, the castle was a focal point of political power until rebellious farmers in the Peasants’ War of 1525 destroyed it.

When we arrive in Hohenstaufen we will meet our tour guides. At 15:00 (see time table page 2) the guided tours – one in English/one in German – will start at the Barbarossa Church and the Staufer Museum. The tour then will continue walking up to the castle ruins at the top of the hill. Just be prepared – the path is gravel and steep in places and not considered an easy walk. Make sure to wear appropriate shoes. It also could be somewhat cooler and windy at the top of the hill. Once you make it to the top you will be rewarded with a fantastic view of the surrounding countryside.

At the end of the tour, approx. 16:30, we will walk together down the hill back to the museum and to the bus (the walk down will take about 20 min).

The bus will leave at 17:15 back to Plochingen – please be on time. Upon arrival we get off the bus in Plochingen. It is a short walk to the Historic Brewhouse and Restaurant, Staiger’s “Waldhorn” for dinner (500m away from the Plochingen train station). We may choose from a menu selection.

The number of participants for this event is limited to 40 persons (due to the seat capacity of the bus).

We kindly ask for upfront payment of 30 € p/p members / 35€ p/p non-members.

Best Regards,

Upcoming events

Saturday, 19 August Roman Open-Air Museum in Hechingen-Stein
Saturday, 9 September Steiler Zucker Wine Fest in Stuttgart-Mühlhausen
Saturday, 23 September Cannstatter Wasen (Fall Fest), Grandl’s Tent
Saturday, 14 October 75th Anniversary Dinner, Wuerttemberg Automobile Club
Friday, 27 October Stuttgart Water Reservoir Tour
Saturday, 18 November Keltermuseum and Wine Tasting, Unterjesingen by Tübingen
Saturday, 2 December Annual Christmas Party, Alte Kanzlei Restaurant, Stuttgart
Please note: Events and dates subject to change ! If you would like more information on any of these events, or would like to sign up in advance, please talk to any board member. They will put you in contact with the person planning the event.

Time table Hohenstaufen event, 15 July 2023:

13:30 Meet at Plochingen S-Bahn station / Parking lot
14:00 – 14:45 Bus drive to Hohenstaufen
14:45 – 15:00 Arrive in Hohenstaufen and meet tour guides
15:00 – 16:30 Guided tour: museum, church and ruins on top of the Hohenstaufen
16:30 – 17:15 Time for refreshments at the Café and walk back to the bus
17:15 – 18:00 Bus drive back to Plochingen
18:00 – 18:15 Walk to Restaurant
18:15 – … Dinner at Staiger‘s „Waldhorn“ Plochingen

Directions:

By car: When you get to the center of Plochingen and the train station you will find a few parking lots or garages. We recommend the parking lot marked in the map below.

Public transportation: from Stuttgart Hauptbahnhof take the S-Bahn S1 to Plochingen. Get off the S-Bahn and exit the station in the direction of the center of Plochingen, step on the Eisenbahnstrasse and walk to the right until you get to the parking lot marked in the map below.

Public transportation web site: https://en.vvs.de/