Wetzlar

Located on the Lahn River, Wetzlar is a fan favorite for canoist, kayakers and other non-motor boat enthusiasts. The waterfront has a small boat launch that eases entry to the Lahn for people who come to enjoy the fast running white water. Rentals are available in town for those that do not own their own equipment. The town is also a mecca for cyclists and there are several places in town where bike rentals are offered.

Eisenmarkt – Silhöferstrasse – Wetzlar, Germany

Sculpture – Mühlgraben – Wetzlar, Germany

Biergarten – Mühlgraben – Wetzlar, Germany

Part of old town wall – Wetzlar, Germany

The town itself has a few main squares that setup for weekend festivities, the Schillerplatz, the Eisenplatz and less so the Domplatz. There is also the area along the Mühlgraben that is lined with Biergarten and other stalls where food and beverages can be purchased, as you walk lazily through area along the river.

Entering Schillerplatz – Wetzlar, Germany

The Alte Lahnbrücke spans the Lahn River about at the midpoint of the old town, connecting the Eisenmarkt with the Neustadt on the other side of the river. Here you will also find several Biergarten, a playground for children and outside seating to enjoy the atmosphere in this lovely little town.

Alte Lahnbrücke – Lahn River – Wetzlar, Germany

Wasserorgel – Alte Lahnbrücke – Lahn River – Wetzlar, Germany

Getting There

Wetzlar is about a thirty to forty minute drive north of Frankfurt am Main on the A5 and off the A45. It should be noted that at the time of this writing the A5 has some construction that will slow your travels down somewhat, but all-in-all it wasn’t too bad. The city also has a train stop, so that is always an option.

Churches And Cathedrals

Wetzlar Dom

The Wetzlar Dom, or Cathedral of Saint Mary, is a shared catholic and protestant of medieval character. A mixture of Romanesque and Gothic styles, it was never finished and suffered from severe bomb damage during the last war. Several areas of the cathedral were never repaired properly, including the main entrance and the spire, which from a distance looks rather awkward.

Fake Facade and Tympanum – Wetzlar Dom – Wetzlar, Germany

Restaurants

Paulaner Wirtshaus Wetzlar

Located am Haarplatz, the Paulaner Wirtshaus Wetzlar is an excellent choice for food. Located near the Wehr on the Lahn, you can hear the rapids as you enjoy a nice glass of beer on a warm day and the food, which is a mixture of Bavarian and Swabian cuisines. You can actually order a soup with Spätzle in it!

Menu – Wirtshaus Wetzlar – Am Haarplatz – Lahn River – Wetzlar, Germany

Beer – Wirtshaus Wetzlar – Am Haarplatz – Lahn River – Wetzlar, Germany

Patti and Ericka – Wirtshaus Wetzlar – Am Haarplatz – Lahn River – Wetzlar, Germany

Gabi and Erick – Wirtshaus Wetzlar – Am Haarplatz – Lahn River – Wetzlar, Germany

Soup with Spätzle – Wirtshaus Wetzlar – Am Haarplatz – Lahn River – Wetzlar, Germany

Kartoffelsalat – Wirtshaus Wetzlar – Am Haarplatz – Lahn River – Wetzlar, Germany

Weisswurst in Broth – Wirtshaus Wetzlar – Am Haarplatz – Lahn River – Wetzlar, Germany

Brotkorb – Wirtshaus Wetzlar – Am Haarplatz – Lahn River – Wetzlar, Germany

On the border of Hesse and Bavaria, in the Odenwald, is the town of Michelstadt. It’s curious, because its name contains within it a word that most english speaking people would think it should be a city, when in fact, the germans use the denotation for both town and city. Technically, it is considered a Kleinstadt, or small city, or what we call a town and should carry the stadt on the end of its name.

Michelstadt

The town is one of the oldest within what is called the inner Odenwald. There has been some sort of settlement there ever since the eighth century. Like other small towns of this nature, its layout has a certain lazy circle about it, indicating it was protected by some kind of fortification or wall. Evidence of this can be found on Kellerbergstraße, where part of the wall remains, and Mauerstraße where it can be seen in its former glory.

Elephantenhaus – Mauerstraße – Michelstadt, Germany

Getting There

To get to Michelstadt you will take either the 45 or 47 from the north or the south. On the north of town is a very large parking area which we used, conveniently located close to the town’s center.

Zum Grüner Baum – Großer Gasse – Michelstadt, Germany

Oberer Pfarrgasse – Michelstadt, Germany

Town Hall

The Town Hall, or Rathaus, is one of the more prominent buildings in the town. It stands a bit off-center in the Marktplatz and has an old press, a scale and other items associated with the buildings history in the open area underneath it.

Altes Rathaus – Marktplatz – Michelstadt, Germany

The Marktplatz contains a main foutain, which the town appears to decorate for holidays and other occasions.

Marktbrunnen – Marktplatz – Michelstadt, Germany

Löwenhof – Marktplatz – Michelstadt, Germany

Michelstadt Fortress

The Michelstadt Fortress, or Burg Michelstadt, is probably more of a stronghold than any castle or fortress. Though it sits on a high wall with a moat, it is not as impressive as other german castles or fortresses. Today it houses a mill museum, which unfortunately was not open at the time of our visit.

Old Wall – Kellerbergstraße – Michelstadt, Germany

Diebsturm

The Diebsturm, or Thieves’ Tower, is part of and sits next to Burg Michelstadt. The sump or cellar of the tower was used as a prison starting sometime in the early fourteenth century. Prisoners were lowered down on a rope into the cellar to wait our their term. It is one of the more prominent features of the town.

Ericka and Patti – Diebsturm – Marktplatz – Michelstadt, Germany

Dr. I. E. Lichtigfeld Museum

This museum preserves the jewish past of the town, neatly preserved in the former Synagoge Michelstadt that was destroyed during the prelude to the second world war.

Here one can get a sense of the small jewish population that used to inhabit the town, which also has numerous Stolpersteine^[1]these are small brass memorials laid in the ground for jews and people who were killed, deported or driven to suizide commemorating the people of the town that lost their lives. They can be found throughout Germany and parts of Europe.

The museum also backs up to the old town wall and has a nice little park, where one can quietly sit and enjoy the weather.

Dr. I. E. Lichtigfeld Museum – Alter Stadtmauer – Michelstadt, Germany

Dr. I. E. Lichtigfeld Museum – Park – Michelstadt, Germany

Restaurants

Due to its size, there is not much to choose from, but there are a few restaurants in the Marktplatz. We chose a brewery close to the edge of town for lunch.

Michelstädter Rathausbräu

The Michelstädter Rathausbräu is a brewery and restaurant. It serves good food typical of the area. They don’t speak much english, so be prepared to whip out your translation guide or phone. However, the food is very good and they have their own brew on tap.

Rathausbräu Restaurant and Brewery – Mauerstraße – Michelstadt, Germany

References[+]

References
↑1	these are small brass memorials laid in the ground for jews and people who were killed, deported or driven to suizide

Tag: Hessen

Wetzlar, Germany – Leisure Along The Lahn

Wetzlar

Getting There

Churches And Cathedrals

Wetzlar Dom

Restaurants

Paulaner Wirtshaus Wetzlar

Michelstadt, Germany – Odenwald Curiosity

Michelstadt

Getting There

Town Hall

Michelstadt Fortress

Diebsturm

Dr. I. E. Lichtigfeld Museum

Restaurants

Michelstädter Rathausbräu