Monastery Garden
According to the medieval example, a herb garden was laid out in Hirsau
Monastery. Behind the Church of St. Aurelius (Aureliuskirche) over 50
different plants grow in 37 beds, which are also familiar to those
interested in herbs from "Walahfried's Herb Garden" and Hildegard of
Bingen's "Medicinal Treasure“.
Black Forest
The Black Forest has its name from the Romans, who called it the "silva
nigra" - the dark forest. The region of low mountains with plenty of
water and its dense mixed and coniferous woodlands was discovered in
the 19th century in the course of the Romantic Age as a destination for
visitors. Since that time it is one of the major vacation area in
southern Germany. Prior to its discovery by tourism, the people in the
region primarily lived from the production of glass and clocks, from
forestry, from rafts and as charcoal burners.
Town of Calw
The old "Oberamtsstadt" (high administrative center) of Calw lies in
the Nagold river valley. At the time of the dukes and kings of
Württemberg it was a major economic importance. This included
clothworkers, dyers, the lumber trade and a monopoly on salt. Various
museums in the town inform visitors on the farming culture and
traditional professions of the region.
One of the most important sons of the city, the poet Hermann Hesse, honored its memory:
"Between Bremen and Naples, between Vienna and Singapore, I have seen
many a pretty town, towns on the sea and towns up high on mountains,
and from many a well I have taken a drink as a pilgrim, which later
became the sweet poison of homesickness for me. But the most beautiful
town of all that I know, is Calw on the Nagold, a small, old, little
Swabian town in the Black Forest."
The political community of Hirsau was not created until 1930 and was incorporated in Calw in 1975.