Grimmelshausen circular route

The town of Renchen is located in the northern Black Forest at the exit of the Renchtal valley into the Upper Rhine Plain.

The municipality became famous during the Thirty Years' War thanks to its mayor Hans Jakob Christoffel von Grimmelshausen. He was not so much known for his official activities. Rather, he occupied himself as a writer and undertook excursions into the surrounding area, which flowed into his main work "Der abenteuerliche Simplicissimus Teutsch", published in 1668/69. In this bestseller, which was already a bestseller at the time, his character Simplicius Simplicissimus describes his life during the war in a satirical manner. In addition to the turmoil of the war, he also describes the magnificent view from the Mooskopf, which became increasingly overgrown in the last century - only hurricane Lothar restored it to its former state. Since then, a monument has been erected there in memory of the writer. Another one was erected in 1970 in honor of "The excellent depictor of the Mummelsee" at the Mummelsee.

Today, the town of Grimmelshausen bears his name and honors him with the Grimmelshausen monument at his grave site. The "Jäger von Soest" town hall fountain and the Fabeltierbrunnen fountain are dedicated to his hero Simplicius. The Simplicissimus House, Germany's first "museum of literary reception history", is dedicated to the memory of the greatest poet of the Baroque era. The tradition of his satirical literature is continued today by the political-satirical weekly magazine "Simplicissimus".

The poet's places of activity can also be visited on the Grimmelshausen circular trail laid out by the Renchen Black Forest Association. It is approx. 18 km long and runs from Renchen to Oberkirch and back again. The only downside: lots of asphalt!