Besenwirtschaften (wine inns)

"Capitulare de villis vel curtis imperatoris"
(Decree on the goods and the imperial lands of the emperor)

What words for a true wine lover, even if he can't understand Latin. Because the law with this title from Charles the Great in the year 791 entitled the farmers and wine growers to directly market a part of their harvests and crops.

He thus gave us our beloved Besa (short form for Besenwirtschaft) which in itself entitled him to the addition to his name of "the great". What developed is what in other places is called the "bush", "bouquet" or "hedge" inns and what has become so typical and extremely beloved for the region around Stuttgart.
How beloved can be measured by anyone who tried at eight o'clock in the evening to get a seat in a "Besa". This is the moment when we Swabians prove that four pairs of butt cheeks can find a place on a bench made for two. It's cramped and never quiet. People tell stories, laugh, sing (sometimes also without the accompaniment of instruments, later in the evening even lomba songs, somewhat bold songs which are not always for children), and of course people drink and eat.
Typical for a Besa is also that one becomes part of a larger group within a shorter period of time, even if you have come alone. Thus the Besa has always been what one could call in modern language a "communication medium". And there's another characteristic of the Besa: everyone is equal. No matter whether farmer or banker, worker or architect, what brings everyone together here is the joy of wine, of rustic food, good entertainment and nice people.

So that you can already look forward to your visit and know what you can expect, here are some notes for your visit to a Besen:
Besen are inns which are time limited and don't need a special permit. Because of this they are also only open for 4 months a year. This is usually in stages, in the time between September and April. Each Besa does this quite differently, therefore in any case call ahead of time and ask if it is open!