Vaihingen an der Enz

Vaihingen an der Enz is a town located between Stuttgart and Karlsruhe, in southern Germany, on the western periphery of the Stuttgart Region. Vaihingen is situated on the river Enz, and has a population of around 30,000. The former district capital is now part of the district of Ludwigsburg in the Land (state) of Baden Württemberg. It is 25 km northwest of Stuttgart, and 15 km west of Ludwigsburg. Not to be confused with Vaihingen, a district of Stuttgart.

Vaihingen lies at an altitude of 200 to 450 metres at the end of the Strohgäus, on the western edge of the Neckarbecken in a valley widening of the Enz. The town centre lies on the east side of the river and is overlooked by the castle Kaltenstein.

Vaihingen may date back as far as 799 AD, but the documents are not clear. In 1252 documents refer directly to Vaihingen as a town, established by Count Gottfried von Vaihingen. The town changed hands several times. In the sixteenth century it became a Protestant town. During the Thirty Years' War Vaihingen was besieged by both the Protestant and Catholic warring factions. The consequences of the 1848 revolution caused harvest failures and inflation, and the town population diminished by a large emigration. In the early 1900s, a connection to the railroad network brought more people and industries to Vaihingen. In 1938 Vaihingen became a regional centre. There was the Vaihingen an der Enz concentration camp during World War II.

Vaihingen is located on the Württemberger Weinstraße and on the southern route of the German Timber Frame Road, both routes pass many sights.

Vaihingen has a municipal museum in the St. Peter's Church and a wine museum in the old winery in the district Horrheim.

The memorial for the concentration camp Vaihingen in the Glattbachtal was opened on April 16, 2005. A twenty minute audiovisual presentation reminiscent of the events of the years 1944 and 1945.

The May Festival Vaihingen Enz is one of the oldest children's festivals in Baden Württemberg, first documented in 1687. Despite being held yearly on Pentecost (May or June), it is a non religious festival. The highlight of the festival is a parade presenting several historic events as well as current sportsclubs and institutions of Vaihingen. Many people who moved away from Vaihingen take the opportunity to visit their hometown on this event.