Neurott

Is there a more peculiar name for a village than Neurott? Don’t let its quaint appearance fool you. Neurott, nestled in the southwest of Heidelberg, holds a past closely tied to Germany’s tumultuous 20th century. Founded in 1938, Neurott wasn’t your typical village. It was a “Neubauernsiedlung”, a planned settlement created under the Nazi regime. The goal? To establish self-sufficient farming communities. Imagine, eleven farms, each with two “Äcker” – parcels of land – totaling about eight hectares. These lands were once common land used by the people of Kirchheim and part of the Bruchhausen estate. The construction of the Reichsautobahn, today’s Autobahn 5, separated these fields. Most of the settlers were young farmers, primarily from Kirchheim. Neurott lacked meadows, so crop rotation was essential for raising livestock. Today, Neurott is a peaceful community of around 60 people, with four farms still operating. The focus now is on growing tobacco and asparagus. You can even find a charming vegetable farm with a shop right here. But here’s a fascinating fact. In 2005, Neurott, not connected to the public sewage system, became a pioneer. It installed Germany’s first decentralized membrane treatment plant, a testament to innovation and sustainability in this historic village.