Muggardt

 

Muggardt is a small town with approximately 73 inhabitants, vacation homes, a small farming and wine growing community, its own water wells, and a little, old church.

The inhabitants of Muggardt are a colorful mixture of native farmers, whose ancestors have lived here for centuries, and newcomers of different professions who decided to make Muggardt their home.
  
Muggardt is part of the nearby larger town of Britzingen which again belongs to the city of Muellheim.  And Muellheim again is administered by the university city of Freiburg.
Long ago, when somebody asked: "Where can I find Muggardt?"  The joking answer was: "There where the foxes and the rabbits say Good Night to each other".  The road sign that shows the way to Muggardt reflects this answer by showing a rabbit and a fox.  Being hidden from view was often of advantage to Muggardt.  During the many wars that were fought in Germany,  Muggardt hardly ever received any damage.  Only during the 30 year war, soldiers stole the bells in the church.

                                                           Attractions

The very old little church in Muggardt is worth a visit.  It is mostly open during the day.  You can enter your name in the guest-book, or you can attend a service that is being held every 2 weeks.

Highly recommeded is a short walk through the vineyards above Muggardt.  From there you have a super view over the whole Rhine valley between Basel and Freiburg.

For those people who like walking or hiking, the old ruins of Neuenfels castle, which are about 900 ft above Muggardt, is a nice hiking goal.  From up there, you have a panoramic view over the vine- yards below, the Rhine valley, the vacation resort Badenweiler with its Roman ruins, and the Vosges across the Rhine in France.  When the sight is good, you can even see the Alps.

Unfortunately, it must be said that Muggardt, apart from fresh air, beautiful scenery and hiking trails, has not much to offer to the visitor.  The "Cafe Sacher", which used to be well known in the area, even as far as Switzerland and the USA, is now for unknown reasons closed.  The hungry and thirsty visitor has now no other choice, but move on to the next village - Sulzburg, Laufen, Britzingen or Badenweiler, or bring his own food and drink. 

Of course, the nearby villages have their own charm.  There you can visit wine cellars to taste the local wine, or visit a local "Straussi" (eating place of homegrown food during the season) to mingle with the locals and eat the specialties of the house.  In most Straussis, the people sit together on long tables and benches. 

Also, during the summer months, you will find every weekend a wine festival in different villages.  And in September/October, during wine harvest time, you will be able to drink the "Neuer Suesser", a new wine that is just beginning to ferment, but is still as sweet as grape juice.  But be careful, the alcohol content could knock you out if you have too many drinks.  It is, however, the ideal drink with "Flammkuchen" - a tortilla or pizza like flat round bread, very thin, with toppings of bacon, cream and onions and baked similar to a pizza -  and "Vesperbrote"- open sandwiches, covered with Black Forest bacon and different salamis and other specialties.