Three days filled with outings and activities

The autumn visit was a day longer than usual, to fit in with more favourable flight times between Stansted and Karlsruhe/Baden-Baden airports. The organisers in Eppingen took full advantage of this to offer their eight visitors from Epping a wide-ranging programme of outings to places of interest.

The visitors spent the Thursday evening with their hosts. Then on Friday morning there was a visit to Pforzheim, 45 km (28 miles) from Eppingen. Historically this was an important centre for watch and clock making, and later for jewellery production. Everyone feasted their eyes on magnificent jewellery and gold at the Schmuckwelten (World of Jewellery) exhibition – one Epping twinner was particularly impressed by being allowed to hold a gold bar worth €750,000!
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pforzheim
www.erih.net/i-want-to-go-there/site/schmuckwelten-world-of-jewellery-pforzheim

That afternoon there was a visit to the village of Elsenz near Eppingen, which was until relatively recently noted for growing tobacco and manufacturing cigars.
www.eppingen-tourismus.de/museum/heimat-und-tabakmuseum-elsenz (in German)

At the source of the River Elsenz in the village of the same name

Saturday had a subterranean start – down 180 metres (600 ft) by lift into the salt mine at Bad Friedrichshall. Long tunnels then lead into enormous caverns excavated originally by hand and now by the massive ‘continuous miner’ machine that is on display. Interactive exhibits explain the geology and technology and the history of the mine from the early 19th century until today. There is also a memorial to prisoners of the nearby Kochendorf concentration camp who died while untertaking forced labour manufacturing armaments in the mine during World War II.
www.salzwerke.de/en/tourism/salt-mine-bad-friedrichshall.html

There was a more light-hearted visit in the afternoon, to the Bikini Museum in Bad Rappenau. This, too, has its roots in a local industry – in this case women’s undergarments and later swimwear. The exhibits show the history of swimwear from antiquity to the present day, with special features on film stars and fashion icons.
www.bikiniartmuseum.com/en

Above and top of page, boat trip on the Neckar. The ‘Alte Brücke’ (Old Bridge), with its imposing archway, is one of Heidelberg’s best-known sights

Bad weather on Sunday failed to dent the enjoyment of a boat trip from Heidelberg to Neckarsteinach on the River Neckar, world famous for its views of red sandstone crags and verdant forests.
www.germany.travel/en/cities-culture/heidelberg.html

The day ended with a delicious three-course supper at the Villa Waldeck restaurant in Eppingen. The meal was followed by an entertaining quiz presented by Derek Humphrey. A late finish with fond farewells was followed by an early start the next morning for the bus journey back to the airport. Everyone agreed that this had been another successful visit – some of the Eppingen twinners, too, had discovered new things about their home area. Our thanks are due to everyone in Eppingen involved in organising and hosting another rewarding exchange.

Farewell meal in the Villa Waldeck