You can still meet the famous trumpeter of Säckingen in Bad Säckingen today. Dressed in historical garb, he takes guests on guided tours through the alleyways of the town and to original locations from the famous epic poem by Joseph Victor von Scheffel. It was in Säckingen that the poet heard the romantic love story that took place here: A commoner's son and an aristocratic girl fell in love. Because the union was not befitting their station, they married far away and later returned home. "Der Trompeter von Säckingen" was a bestseller and also delighted audiences as an opera and silent film. The place where the two protagonists fell in love, Schönau Castle, still stands today and is home to several museums: from the history of the town and archaeological finds in the High Rhine Plain to a unique collection of trumpets from over 400 years of trumpet making and the "Scheffel Rooms", visitors can find all kinds of treasures in the castle. Additional temporary exhibitions in the "Moving Rooms" round off the offer.
Its park, the Schlosspark, is a wonderful place to stroll through the greenery. The café also invites you to take a break and impresses with its location directly on the Rhine and a wonderful view, from which you can see another highlight of Bad Säckingen: A wooden structure rests proudly on mighty stone pillars, surrounded by the waters of the Rhine. At 204 meters, it is the longest covered wooden bridge in Europe. The national cultural monument is over 450 years old and can be used on foot and by bike, connecting Germany with Switzerland.
Long gone are the days when passers-by had to pay a Kreuzer bridge toll. Today, visitors stroll back and forth between the two countries and can let themselves drift through the alleyways of Bad Säcken. All of a sudden, the view opens up onto Münsterplatz in the heart of the old town: colorful facades line it and the towers of St. Fridolin's Minster rise up in the middle. With its many cafés and eateries, this is a wonderful place to linger. It's quite possible that the trumpeter will also stop by - on his way to the lovers' tomb at the cathedral.
