Sign in with Facebook- Join for free
- Sign In
Sign in with Facebook
Helpfulness
I love to get out of the house and into the woods especially if it is a new set of trails. After looking over my maps of the Odenwald area I decided to hike along the ridge line between Hemsbach and Weinheim. While the weather wasn't the greatest as least the rain stopped by the time I got to the parking lot and didn't start up until I was already back in my nice warm house. I had no idea what to expect on the route I choose since my maps didn't show any points of interest (except for some scenic overlook symbols). Therefore I was pleasantly surprised when I found the old Jewish cemetery, a group of people in old German outfits (from the Roman period) acting out some scene and a tower on the top of the ridge that gave me a great, if cloudy, view of the Rhine Valley and the beautiful valley on the east side of the ridge.
A good place to start the hike is at the Am Mühlweg parking spot in the small town of Hemsbach which is right off the A5. From the parking lot you can either head up or down the valley on the “yellow circle” trail. I went up the valley and almost immediately came across an old cemetery on the side of wooded hillside. Upon closer inspection of the tombstones I saw that it was an old Jewish cemetery. From the cemetery I continued up the trail until it hit the “red line” trail and headed south (went right). Before I did this I walked north a couple of hundred feet to see a tower and some actors doing their thing (not sure what).
One you are on the “red line” trail you are heading south and will come across a tower (Turm in German) that you can climb for fantastic views of the valleys on both sides of the ridge and a look at the next set of hills (above Weinheim) that have a tower and castle on them. From the tower you continue south on the “red line” trail down into Weinheim.
As you arrive in the town you should see blue and yellow B trail markings. You have your choice of routes to take back to your car. Both trails head back up to Hemsbach so if you want some hills follow the “yellow B” trail up into the hills and along some one-lane roads that pass through some vineyards. Once the “yellow B” trail meets back up with the “blue B” trail you can head off on the “blue B” trail when it separates with the “yellow B” trail and heads back up into the hills. The trails will merge back together before you arrive back at Hemsbach. To return to your car, you just need to find the “yellow circle” trail and head up the valley to your car.
The hike was approximately 8.5 miles and took me under three hours to complete it. There were a number of hills but they were not too steep. The path at times was covered with wet leaves which made the descents slippery at times. However, despite all the rain we are getting the paths were in good shape and worst part was the parking lot which was all churned up by forestry equipment. I plan on doing this hike again in the spring when everything is in bloom.
Written Dec 23, 2012
Address: Am Mühlweg parking lot, Hemsbach Germany
Helpfulness
This year has been perfect for sledding , much more snow than in the years before - all the children love it. In some regions around Weinheim there was no school, because the buses couldn't manage the steep roads, which was even better for the children.
A great place to go sledding is in the castle gardens in Weinheim. No cars, no fences, just a steep hill to go up and down. I enjoyed the lovely view of the old town, but the children couldn't care less, for them it was fun in the snow only.
Written Feb 3, 2010
Address: Schloßpark Weinheim
Website: http://www.gartendatenbank.de/wiki/trips-xx_weinheim_schlosspark
Helpfulness
The newer castle in the hills above Weinheim is called Wachenburg. It was built by the fraternities in the beginning of the 20th century, so it's really not an old castle. Each year, in the week before Pentecost, the fraternities have a meeting in Weinheim up on the castle. During this week you can see many young men walking around in fancy, colourful uniforms, wearing sables and looking like straight our of a movie set.
Some even wear a scar in their face and are very proud of it, when fencing had been part of their initiation.(Drinking too much seems to be another part).
Apart from this week the Wachenburg offers a great view of the Rhine valley. The hike up there is not too long, but pretty steep. You can also go there by car, there is a large parking lot outside. Many hiking trails start from there.
After your hike you can relax in the restaurant.
The picture shows the main gate of the Wachenburg. All the fraternities have put up their coat of arms there. "Arms" can be taken literally for some of them, as they still fight duels.
Picture 2 was taken on a somewhat hazy day, but you can see the new castle of Weinheim on the right side and the tower of the old castle, the Windeck, with the flag on the left.
Updated Oct 9, 2007
Address: Just look up in Weinheim, you can't miss it.
Website: http://www.wachenburg.de/index.html
Helpfulness
People from Weinheim had emigrated to the USA and settled there. In 1976, some of their descendants came back to Weinheim and put up a memorial to the USA, calling it a salute to 200 years independence. On it they describe the journey to the new world.
Just opposite of this memorial there is the smallest house in Weinheim, shaped like a ship.I suppose, any furniture the people living there need must be hand-made, otherwise it would be too large.
Written May 15, 2006
Helpfulness
One of the counts living in Weinheim about 300 years ago had enough time and money to pursue his hobby of gardening. He sailed across the world and collected seedlings. Some of them grew in Weinheim, like this 300-year-old Lebanon ceder.
Close to the park there is also an older part of the new castle. In these nice-looking rooms a princess banished from Mannheim castle had to spend the rest of her days. She was sick and tired of her husband's philandering ways and decided not to go with him when he moved to Munich. Staying on in the Mannheim castle was impossible, so she had to move to Weinheim.
Written May 15, 2006
Helpfulness
In the 18th century the new castle was built in Weinheim, no longer a fortress type of castle, but a more comfortable one.It now houses the offices of the mayor of Weinheim and of city hall. Attached to the castle there is a park, with a lake for feeding the ducks, some large bird cages and of course lots of flowers.
Written May 15, 2006
Helpfulness
Most working people in Weinheim were tanners, living at the bottom of the hill where they had their own creek. Running water was essential for their job. This quarter is now a nice area to live in, but it's difficult to drive as streets are really narrow. The houses there were built in the 16th century. You can still see the tanners' sign, two crossed knives with a handle right and left. Leading up to the market square are many very narrow alleys or some pretty steep stairs.
Written May 15, 2006
Address: Gerberbachviertel
Helpfulness
The last guard tower was built to be just this, a guard tower, but from the 15th century on it was used as a prison for women acccused of witchcraft. City and Church authorities didn't dare to put these women in the same prison as the normal prisoners. They were afraid the"witches" would cast a spell and everyone would escape.
It is hard to understand why they still believed these poor women were witches, when none of them managed to escape by casting a spell.
How difficult life was for these poor women, and how terrible their death, depended entirely on the belief of the local priest. The Catholic priests in these times were convinced that men -males - had a soul, animals had no soul and women, well they weren't too sure. So for a woman who stood out in any way - maybe very beautiful, red hair, a special way with animals - it was very easy to be accused of witchcraft.
This mass hysteria throughout Europe went on for a long time, but the main years were in the 15th and 16th centuries.
Written May 15, 2006
Address: Am Hexenturm
Helpfulness
The second guard tower still standing is called the Blue Hat. Its roof was laid with slate, seemingly blue in the sun. This tower is still attached to a piece of the old city wall. It was used as a prison. The poor prisoners - not always criminals, but also people who couldn't pay their taxes - were thrown into the tower. Straw covered the floor and in about eight meters height there was a small window. No human rights in those days.
The tower is in the park of the new castle, a playground just in front of it. The children playing there have of course no idea what happened in the tower 800 years ago.
Written May 15, 2006
Address: Schlosspark
Helpfulness
Between the years 1200 and 1250 Weinheim got a new city wall, complete with guard towers. Three of them are still standing today. One of them is called the Red Hat, because the roof was laid with copper plates which glowed red when the sun was shining on it. The tower is usually closed to the public, but on heritage day - the second Sunday in September - it is open. I went in and started to walk up. I could easily see that the people were smaller than we are today, I'm not very tall but felt I had to duck all the time.
What you see sticking out from the tower was one of the first outdoor toilets, something the people of Weinheim were very proud of. But somehow i think, the builder back then could have chosen a better place than just above the entrance. It must have been pretty dangerous to stand there and wait for the door to open, if the soldier up there was just using the bathroom...
Written May 15, 2006
Sponsored Links
Weinheim: Small,Two castles and Good Food
We've had lots of snow this year, much more than usually. The children love it and the castle garden is just the right place to go sledding. The name Weinheim could mean home of the crying or home...
1 Wedding, a Funeral and a call to 911 Emergency
It is a good idea to get out and see the world for a better understanding of the various cultures and people in this world. I have never been to Germany much less Europe before. I had a unique...
I've visited the town on two occasions now and still didn't make it into the town for a visit. I walked around the castle ruins above the town and the new castle even higher above the town. I also...
Now I'm not a VT newbie any more! Yesterday I went to my first VT meeting! The meeting took place in the pretty little town of Weinheim and involved - my first ride on an InterCity train - VT members...
Build your own Weinheim page
Sponsored Links
Comments