Murgtal Valley "Heuhüttentäler"

Faced with a growing population, around 250 years ago people in the Murgtal Valley needed more space for agriculture and animal husbandry. After tough negotiations with forest owners, they cleared away the woods along the brooks in the steep valley offshoots and laid out meadows. These meadows were used to grow hay because soil conditions and the steep location made them unsuitable for husbandry. A system of brooks regulated water distribution. Immigrants from the Tyrol brought their expertise in building wooden "Heuhütten", or hay huts, in which the fodder was stored. In the winter the hay was brought down into the valley by means of strapped-on baskets or wooden sleds. The offshooting valleys began to decay during the last decades of the 20th century. They became overgrown; many hay huts fell into disrepair.

The few open meadow valleys remaining in the Murgtal Val-ley are among the most valuable cultural scenery of this region. They are partly responsible for the pleasant climate. They ensure that the towns get plenty of fresh air because the fall winds are able to blow fresh air from the high moun-tain altitudes through the offshooting valleys. Today these side valleys are kept open by grazing sheep or goats. Some can be explored via circular hiking routes, for instance the hiking path through the Reichenbachtal Valley between Hilpertsau and Reichental, a village of half-timbered houses, through the Latschigbachtal Valley to Weisenbach, across the goat path to Forbach-Bermersbach, or along the "Heuhüttenrundwege" circular routes to Gausbach.

Info

Im Tal der Murg e. V.
August-Schneider-Straße 20
76571 Gaggenau, FRG
Telefon: +49 (0) 7225 982-160
Fax: +49 (0) 7225 982-161
E-Mail: info@murgtal.org
Internet: www.murgtal.org