It’s easy to get excited about a proper spa town in the Rhön Mountains, but let’s just say you got a few extra days on your hands… could you go anywhere else? Of course you can, and I’ll tell you where: Barchfeld-Immelborn.
That’s not to take anything away from nearby Bad Salzungen or Bad Liebenstein (both of which have bus service to the place), but Barchfeld-Immelborn is pretty great in my eyes.
Although its newest political birthday doesn’t make it that old (the combined name was “created” on December 31, 2012), the formerly independent hamlets are quite historical, dating back to 933 (Barchfeld) and 1302 (Immelborn).
You won’t find prehistoric man running around town anymore, but you will find the Stein’sche Schloss, a 16th century castle that once had a moat. What’s a castle without a dungeon, I ask you? Tread on in, if you dare. ;-)
And you’ll find a lovely Protestant Parish Church, along with an old Jewish Cemetery nearby. Even better that you’ll find not one, but two lakes. Perfect for camping, by the way.
Let’s not forget about cycling along the Werratalradweg (Werra Valley Cycle Route), or kayaking on the Werra River.
Hmm, while you’re out there it might be possible to see some of the 200 different bird species found in (and around) the area.
As for Immelborn, that’s a tad bit less populated, only around 1600 people getting to call this place home. It’s also where you’ll find a lovely nature reserve where you can commune with nature. Another of Barchfeld-Immelborn’s nature “must-sees” is the Stork’s Nest. For almost a hundred years, storks have nested up in the tower.
Go figure, the storks have the nearby Thuringian Forest to find a suitable nesting spot, and they chose Barchfeld-Immelborn. Yeah, that makes sense. I’d want a front seat to all the cultural action going on around town, too.
What kind of cultural action? Let’s see… There’s the Tanz in den Mai (Dance into May), a July Summer Festival, a multi-day Kirmes in September, an Oktoberfest that’s (believe it, or not) in October, followed by the Fifth Season of Carnival in November, and a Christmas Market in December. Of course, that’s not to be confused with the Christmas at the Landgräfliches Schloss, also known as Schloss Wilhelmsburg.
Castles, mind you, are a great way to experience a piece of history — but it’s places like the town’s Heimatstube (Local History Museum) where you can see how the common man/woman lived with its old clothes, tools, and other everyday items.
See, I told you Barchfeld-Immelborn was pretty great.
