Ten kilometers south of Freiburg lies Pfaffenweiler a charming village nestled in the Schneckental valley. Its story is one of stone wine and resilience.
Pfaffenweiler’s history stretches back centuries possibly even to a mention in a 720 AD document as Openwilare. Scholars debate the exact location though. It’s more certain that Pfaffenweiler’s development involved two separate medieval settlements Ohlinsweiler and Pfaffenweiler itself. Ohlinsweiler first appears in records in 1094.
For centuries Pfaffenweiler thrived on agriculture and viticulture. Stone quarrying was another vital industry. Pfaffenweiler’s distinctive limestone was highly sought after. The pulpit of Freiburg Minster for example was carved from Pfaffenweiler stone in 1561. The oldest inn Stube in Ohlinsweiler dates back to 1574/75. It even served as a local administrative building.
The Thirty Years’ War brought unimaginable suffering. In June 1633 imperial Austrian troops and the villagers of Pfaffenweiler plundered neighboring Protestant villages. Retaliation followed swiftly. Swedes and Baden troops took over the Kirchhofen castle. Hundreds of people mostly women and children were murdered in the castle’s tower. Over 300 people perished. Their remains were buried in a charnel house near the Kirchhofen church. This tragic event is a sober reminder of the war’s brutality.
The area remained a battleground for years. The Westphalian Peace confirmed the Breisgau’s Austrian ownership. However in 1803 the Breisgau and Pfaffenweiler changed hands becoming the property of the Duke of Modena. After his death his Habsburg daughter inherited it. The Habsburg rule ended in 1805. Pfaffenweiler then became part of the Grand Duchy of Baden.
The 19th century saw hard times. Crop failures led many to emigrate. In 1853 132 Pfaffenweiler residents moved to North Africa. The village commemorates their departure with the Afrikadenkmal a monument on the Dürrenberg.
Today Pfaffenweiler continues its winemaking tradition. The annual Schneckenfest snail festival is a testament to the community’s spirit and enduring link to its past. The village also maintains its historical stone quarries which are now part of an open-air museum.
Visiting Pfaffenweiler is stepping into history. You encounter a place that has endured hardship and celebrates its heritage. A place deeply rooted in its past yet vibrant and forward-looking. Enjoy this special place.