Viernheim is an industrial city located in Germany’s Hesse region. It is just on the outskirts of Mannheim, one of the largest cities in this area.
Viernheim was a tobacco capital from the 19th century through the 1920s. Local farmers made a supplementary income in the tobacco industry during the cold winter months by cigar rolling. Modern visitors can check out some historical tobacco barns, one of which has been converted into a library.
For more of the town’s history, you can check out the Viernheim Museum. It contains artifacts from the town’s pre-history right up to the modern day. Particularly of note is the Jewish history exhibit, which features relics from this community that was expelled from Viernheim during the 1940s.
Modern Viernheim has much to offer its special guests. A pedestrian zone is one of the town’s highlights. Here, the shopaholic can get his or her fill with seventy five different shops. A plaza and pub are nearby for the weary shopper to relax in.
If that’s not enough shopping for you, be sure to take a drive (or the OEG train) to the Rhein-Neckar-Center (RNZ) — a huge shopping mall. It is host to over one hundred shops including some famous international chains like Zara, Toys R Us, H&M, C&A and Esprit.
Those in search of a more physical experience will be delighted by the abundance of nature parks here. A nature running path will take you past a fun playground. There’s also a Bird Park that features eighty different species, including the not-native-to-Germany flamingos and parrots. And the Forest Lake is the perfect place for a picnic after a long day of shopping or hiking.
More sport recreation awaits you at the Forest Stadium with its assorted courts for tennis, basketball and track and field. The ever-popular football field is also available. And don’t forget your bathing suit as there are two public swimming pools with a diving tower, and a waterslide.
To sum things up, Viernheim offers fun for the whole family! :-)