Sitting on the right bank of the Weser river, Achim seems a modest little town. You’d never guess that three countries and an independent religious state had been fighting over it!
Founded more than 1,000 years ago, Achim has belonged to the Danes, the Swedes, the Prince-Archbishoprich of Bremen and the Germans.
What made Achim so attractive? The combination of the mountains and the river is nice. The Badener Mountains a rather low though, and there is a lot of flat marsh land that was used for herders for many years. And bees! There were at one time more than 200 different kinds of bees documented in the region, so those who favor local sweets are going to be in heaven here.
Actually, none of these things have made Achim valuable lately. It served instead as an oil camp for the Weimar Republic between WWI and WWII, and the Germany Federal Armed Forces used local fields as a major practice ground.
Military history buffs will be thrilled to find that they can walk on the old fields and marshlands marching grounds. The oil camp will have to be visited only in pictures, though, as the Allies blew it up in (oddly enough) in 1956.
One thing you can visit in the town that has survived for nearly 800 years is the church of St. Laurentius. Built in 1257 to overpower local cult sites and provide a Christian missionary base, it is still used and has a beautiful turquoise door and stonework.
You will also have to stop by the new tourist information office. Opening in the spring of 2009, Achim is doing a complete revamping of its visitor guides and offerings. The city fathers plan to have someone on staff Monday – Saturday to assist visitors in making the most of the town during their stay.
Whether it is a military walking tour or a simple stroll down the river bank, this old town is happy to see you stop by for a visit.
