Pfaffengrund & Wieblingen

Pfaffengrund lies in northwestern Heidelberg and was part of the project of "The Garden City Movement" at the beginning of the 20th Century. This group's objective was to bring about low-priced housing options for working-class families and other socially disadvantaged citizens. With this background, the Pfaffengrund developed slowly but steadily in phases: 1920, 1934 and 1948-53. The district now has a population of about 8000. Wieblingen lies between the highway and a bend of the Neckar River. Not only was a mammoth tooth found here, but also traces of human settlements dating back to the Stone Age are quite evident. Wieblingen itself was first mentioned in a deed of donation in 767 CE. In the following centuries, the Wieblinger inhabitants made their living from agriculture and fishing, but this hamlet was plundered on several occasions and burnt down in the wars of the 17th Century. In the 19th century, crafts workshops and industrial companies flourished in this area. The residential character changed from village-like structures to working-class dwellings, and like Pfaffengrund, a garden city with small houses was set up. Nowadays Wieblingen even has a specialty museum, the Bonsai-Museum, which is certainly worth a visit.
