Hallgarten

The long upward slope to the town of Hallgarten, which is elevated further up the hill, leads through a sea of vines. The vineyards are arranged in rank and file to the right and left of the winding road and convey something about the atmosphere of this vine architecture which has made the Rheingau famous as a winegrowing region. The street takes visitors right into the tranquil wine town with its many small wine growing estates and its broad range of Straußwirtschaften and wine taverns. Viticulture has been conducted for more than 900 years in Hallgarten, the vineyard sites Hallgartener Jungfer, Hendelberg, Würzgarten and Schönhell are among the best sites of the middle Rheingau and result in elegant, vigorous wines of a delicate fruity richness.

In a way the wine has also brought forth a world-famous monument of art in Hallgarten. The ”Mother of God with Pottery“, a pottery figure, stands in the middle of candles in the small parish church Mariä Himmelfahrt (“The Assumption”), which was made in 1415, about 80 years before Columbus discovered America. The so-called ”Schrötermadonna“ also called ”Schöne Hallgartenerin“ (“Beautiful Lady from Hallgarten”) is considered to be among the most significant portrayals of the Mother of God dating back to the 15th century and commemorating the guild of the wine porters (in German: “Schröter”) who were responsible for loading the wine.

Visitors seeking a little exercise after having indulged with heart and soul in culinary enjoyments will find ideal hiking trails around Hallgarten, where the beauties of the cultural region of the Rheingau can be explored. From Hallgartener Zange, the second highest elevation of the Rheingau, visitors have a fantastic view overlooking the open Rhine Valley.