Location and landscape
Bietigheim-Bissingen is located in the central Neckar area, about 25 kilometres northwest of Stuttgart. The Enz and the Metter shape the town and its surroundings; in addition, the Saubach and Altenbachtal valleys run through the local landscape. The municipal area covers about 3,129 hectares and lies between 176.0 and 300.9 metres above sea level.
Winegrowing in Württemberg
Bietigheim and Bissingen are documented as winegrowing locations in the winegrowing region Württemberg, in the Württembergisches Unterland and in the Großlage Schalkstein. The single vineyard Wurmberg is assigned to Bietigheim, the single vineyard Felsengarten to the Bissingen district. For the steep slopes, Riesling, Lemberger and Spätburgunder are recorded; in addition, sparkling wine (Sekt) and spirits are produced.
Steep slopes and winegrowing culture
The surrounding area includes hills, forests, vineyards and steep vineyard sites with historical dry-stone walls and terraces. In the Keuper (Middle Keuper) soil landscape, pelo soils (Pelosole) occur on winegrowing slopes. Since 1985, the town has been promoting the preservation of the historical winegrowing cultural landscape, including the restoration of abandoned plots, the planting of grafted, phylloxera-resistant vines and the construction of dry-stone nature-stone walls.
Historical development
Bietigheim was first mentioned in documents in 789, and Bissingen in around 870. Bietigheim was granted town rights in 1364; in the 15th and 16th centuries an economic boom was recorded thanks to winegrowing and trade. In 1975, Bietigheim and Bissingen were merged into the present-day town of Bietigheim-Bissingen.
