Cultural Experience: Museum Night in the Rems Valley

6 pm: Stihl Gallery in WaiblingenAt Night at the Museum

The evening sun bathes the vineyards of the Rems valley in a warm light. In the taverns, glasses clink and the first dishes are served. In the museums, cultural institutions and restaurants, the anticipation is building for a night full of art, culture and culinary delights. For the Remstal Museum Night, more than 40 venues throughout the region open their doors between 6 pm and midnight. Perfect for a night out with friends or family. Choose a few stops and let yourself be surprised by what the evening has in store.

By the Way

The first Museum Night took place in 2019 and continues to enjoy great popularity. In 2025, the successful event will celebrate its fifth edition.

Ivonne, Ismael and Dustin, three friends from Stuttgart, are also on their way to Waiblingen. They start their museum night with a visit to an art exhibition at the Stihl Gallery. The atmosphere in front of the curved glass building on the Eva Mayr-Stihl Square in Waiblingen is already great. A band is playing, and local wine and Swabian specialties such as Maultaschen and Spätzle are being served.

Stihl Gallery in Waiblingen

The architectural ensemble in the center of Waiblingen consists of the Stihl Gallery, the 'Unteres Remstal' Art School, and the administrative buildings of the Eva Mayr-Stihl Foundation. The gallery is supported by the city of Waiblingen. The name honors the generous support of the foundation, which made the building possible.

On a guided tour, curator Anja Gerdemann tells us about the history of the gallery and the exhibition "Looking back to the future" - a retrospective of 16 years of exhibitions at the gallery in Waiblingen. The gallery focuses on art on and from paper, such as drawings, prints and comics. It shows old masters as well as contemporary works. Outside on the square, the group enjoys the last rays of the evening sun and toasts the successful start to the Museum Night with a glass of Remstal wine. Then it's off to the Alte Schmiede, the Old Forge, in Schwaikheim.

Several people are standing in a gallery listening to a woman. The gallery has yellow and mint-green walls.

Portrait of a young woman. She smiles at the camera. There is an exhibition in the background.

People stand in a gallery and look at posters.

View into the exhibition room of the Stihl Gallery

The gallery is supported by the city of Waiblingen.

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7:30 pm: Alte Schmiede in SchwaikheimExperience craftsmanship yourself

With a mighty blow, the hammer comes down on the red-hot iron. Sparks fly in every direction. After a few blows, Dustin's forehead is covered in sweat. The blacksmith's craft is quite strenuous. Blacksmith Klaus Beisswänger grins and picks up the hammer again. In the old forge, volunteers from the local preservation society keep the craft alive by giving demonstrations and repairing tools and household items from private individuals.

„There are always a lot of people coming to look, to marvel and to collaborate.“

Klaus Beisswänger, balcksmith

If you have something to fix or just want to have a look: The Alte Schmiede forge is open every first Saturday of the month from 9 am to 12 noon. You can also lend a hand, try your hand at hammer and anvil, or operate the big bellows that make the fire blaze.

Alte Schmiede in Schwaikheim

The Alte Schmiede was in regular operation until 1984. It was then closed and taken over by the town a few years later in 1988. Since then, the local history society of Schwaikheim has taken care of the building and the tools. Regular demonstrations preserve the old craft for posterity.

View into an old blacksmith's workshop. A young man is swinging the blacksmith's hammer. An old man stands next to him and watches.

You can see a red-hot metal rod on a metal pedestal. It is being worked on with a large hammer.

Alte Schmiede in Schwaikheim

The Alte Schmiede, the Old Forge, was in regular operation until 1984.

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21 Uhr: Remstalkellerei Winery in WeinstadtPainting in the Wine Barrel Gallery

After all that effort, it's time for a glass of wine! Preferably right at the source - at the Remstalkellerei winery in Weinstadt. Manager Martin Kurrle leads the group down a flight of stairs. Then it's through a small metal door, and suddenly the guests are standing in front of huge oak barrels. This is where the treasures of the winery are stored, which will be tasted during the tour. There is also a special twist.

„Art and wine form a special combination at the Museum Night.“

Martin Kurrle, manager of the Remstalkellerei Winery

On this special evening, the barrels are hung with paintings - a wine barrel gallery, so to speak. The works on display are from a watercolor class taught by artist Christine Bender. After the tour, the wine itself becomes an artistic medium in the "Painting with Wine" activity. Ivonne grabs a paintbrush, dips it into the red wine and gets to work. The motifs are appropriate to the location: Grapes, leaves and vines.

The Remstalkellerei Winery in Weinstadt

The cooperative Remstalkellerei produces an impressive 5,500,000 liters of wine each year on 350 hectares of land on the slopes of the Remstal and its side valleys. After harvesting and processing, the wine matures in the largest wooden barrel cellar in Baden-Württemberg.

View into a wine cellar with red tiles. To the left and right are old wooden wine barrels. In the background you can see small people on a guided tour.

6 people hold their glasses of red wine up to the light. They are looking at the colour. Paintings are displayed in a wine cellar in the background.

Two hands paint dots on a leaf with a brush. The result is a red bunch of grapes.

Remstalkellerei Winery in Weinstadt

An impressive 5,500,000 liters of wine are produced here.

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11 pm.: Hotel and Restaurant Lamm HebsackClub Experience in a Vaulted Cellar

The final event is a celebration. Ivonne, Ismael and Dustin head to the Lamm Hebsack Hotel and Restaurant in Remshalden. Modern art is also on display here tonight, curated by Dietmar Ness, owner of the Pablo Gallery in Weinstadt. But now the museum night comes to an end. A DJ heats up the vaulted cellar of the hotel and the friends dance to the beats of the music, together with the mascot of the Rems valley, Remsi the bee. Everyone agrees that it's a great way to end a great evening.

Lamm Hebsack Hotel and Restaurant in Remshalden

Now in its fifth generation of family ownership, the Lamm Hebsack Hotel and Restaurant combines tradition and modernity. Swabian culinary classics meet the flavors and ideas of international cuisine. The restaurant is one of the Weinsüden Hotels, a selection of houses where wine plays a special role.

Calendar Tip

Mark your calendars for the next Museum Night. It will take place on May 17, 2025. The date is always on the eve of International Museum Day.

Two wine glasses clink together. Party lights in the background.

A life-size bee mascot dances with other guests in a disco.

Lamm Hebsack Hotel and Restaurant in Remshalden is one of the Weinsüden Hotels

This is where Swabian classics meet international flavors.

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Nature and CultureWhat Else to Experience in the Rems Valley

With art, culture and culinary delights, the Museum Night offers a great synthesis of the things that make the Rems Valley so beautiful. But there is plenty to do at other times of the day and year. For example, you can explore the beautiful countryside on a hike or cycle through the vineyards.The RemstalWeg Trail is 215 kilometers long and runs from the source of the Ems River in the Ostalb Region to where it flows into the Neckar River. The trail passes through picturesque vineyards, orchards and cool forests. Of course, you can also hike the stages of the long-distance trail individually. Or you can follow in the footsteps of wine. Everywhere in the Rems Valley, you can enjoy a good glass of local wine, as well as the fresh air and nature on a wine trail. The Vinomat tours, for example, take you to wineries and inns. It's a good idea to stop and sample some of the delicious Swabian cuisine. If the tavern is closed, you can buy a good bottle of red or white wine from a vending machine. The three tours can be found in the Gundelsbach Valley, on the Karlstein Rock and near Kernen.

Tip for Hiking Enthusiasts

A popular event is the 12-hour hike on Ascension Day - 29.05.2025. This year the route leads through the Lower Rems Valley with start and finish in Remseck am Neckar. Early registration is recommended.

Cultural enjoyment is not neglected either. In addition to the Stihl Gallery in Waiblingen, there are a number of other exciting destinations. Visit the Museum of Shadow Theatre in Schwäbisch-Gmünd. Or marvel at the works of Swabian Impressionism and Expressionism at the Karl Ulrich Nuss Collection Museum in Strümpfelbach. Or take a guided tour of the historic town centers of Lorch, Schwäbisch-Gmünd or Schorndorf, the birthplace of Gottlieb Daimler.Nature, culinary and diversity make the Rems Valley beautiful and unique. Yvonne, Dustin and Ismael also appreciate this. The three of them would like to enjoy hiking in the vineyards of the Rems valley or explore the cultural scene of the region.More Information:Museum Night and Rems Valley: remstal.de/events Hiking Trails in the Rems Valley: remstal.de/english/remstal/hiking-bikingCulture in the Rems Valley: remstal.de/kultur