Bad Wimpfen is picturesquely situated between Heidelberg and Heilbronn, visible from afar. The romantic town silhouette high above the Neckar is characterised by the largest Staufer imperial palace north of the Alps with its medieval castle complex, towers and gates, half-timbered houses and churches. The Staufer Emperor Frederick I Barbarossa is first documented in Wimpfen in 1182. This is regarded as the date of foundation of the Wimpfen Imperial Palace. Since the medieval empire did not have a capital city and the kings moved from palace to palace to administer justice, Wimpfen was also always a court city.
