I might crack a lot of corny jokes about most German towns, but I never forget there’s a human factor involved. Not only was Adelsheim in the midst of some gruesome 16th century witch hunts, but it struck me as ironic this town was the birthplace of Alex Lewin, a doctor/rabbi killed in Auschwitz; and Gertrud Scholtz-Klink, an ardent Nazi who headed the National Socialist Women’s League.
Many of Adelsheim’s attractions today were around when Doktor Lewin and Ms. Scholtz-Klink were born around the turn of the 20th century.
You, too, can see the Schloss Sennfeld — a beautiful Baroque castle that celebrated its 300th birthday in 2013. Don’t confuse Sennfeld’s castle with the Oberschloss (Upper Castle, built 1504) and its Unterschloss (Lower Castle), whose tithe barn is now a Local History Museum.
Adelsheim’s Rathaus (Town Hall) has been here a long time, too, and you shouldn’t miss seeing this half-timbered building from 1619.
On the flip side, places weren’t here when the Romans used to call this area home. But, you can walk in their footsteps, as Adelsheim lies on the German Limes Cycle Route, which orientates on the German Limes Road.
Do you think the Romans would’ve been impressed with Adelsheim’s Jakobuskirche? I think they would. Who wouldn’t be impressed with a pretty chapel church? The Romans probably would’ve appreciated the Stadtturm, Adelsheim’s reconstructed City Tower, since the Romans were totally into the whole defense system thing.
As for the rest of the human factor, there’s no place better to experience that than one of town’s festivals. The Adelsheimer Volksfest is a multi-day event every July, which is a different from the Seenfelder Dorffest (Village Festival) that also takes place over the course of a few days in July.
The town is host to some other wonderful events, like the Christmas Bazaar in December; Seestadtfest in September; and the Adelsheim Leuchtet — a twice yearly event using lights and video to “illuminate” sites like the Kirnau Waterfall.
The Kirnau Waterfall is but one gorgeous piece of Adelsheim’s natural side. Heck, part of the town itself lies within the Neckertal-Odenwald Nature Park — which is perfect when you want to get away from the “human factor”. ;-)
