60 km or 37 miles northwest of Frankfurt has to be one of the most magnificent places in all of Germany, the Hessian town of Bad Camberg, the oldest Kneipp health resort in all of Hesse.
With the beautiful scenic Taunus Mountains overlooking in the distance it will take only one glimpse of this fantastic town to know why people have been living here since the days of the Stone Age.
Bad Camberg became quite popular and thrived economically because of its location within an old trade route between Frankfurt and Cologne. The Autobahn A3, built on this old route, makes for much faster travel to get here, though (also by high-speed train!). It was this trade route, as well, that led to the building of many timber framed buildings around the market square from the 15th through 18th centuries.
The restored Amthof is one such row of half timbered beauties that was once the center of the town’s administrative seat. These wonderfully restored sites are the reason that Bad Camberg now lies on the romantic German Framework Road (Deutsche Fachwerkstraße) — pay extra attention to the intricate artwork found along these lovely old buildings!
No matter how far back in Bad Camberg’s history you go, the town really does maintain a medieval feel. This feeling is more than evident when standing by the town’s two remaining watchtowers, the Obertorturm and the Untertorturm built around 1380. But, sadly little remains of the original Stadtmauer (fortification wall).
It is the Obertorturm and Hohenfeldkapelle that double as Bad Camberg’s Town and Tower Museum. All the better to explain this remarkable town’s long history.
Follow that up with a visit to a magnificent 12th century Catholic Church, Saints Peter & Paul, with all its grand medieval artwork. The town’s landmark, though, is the dazzling Kreuzkapelle, or Cross Chapel, built high atop the mountainside for all to see.
Being a “bath” town since as far back as the 18th century (around the same time the area was occupied by the French), Bad Camberg has had time to perfect itself. There’s a fabulous Kurpark right near the Obertorturm with a Kneipp wading pool, tennis courts, and even miniature golf. So, grab yourself one of Bad Camberg’s locally bottled mineral waters, and ENJOY! :-)
