After spending almost this entire week working, writing, and wondering about other parts in Germany, it sure is nice to spend a little bit of time in Hesse. Right now it’s all about the town of Biebesheim am Rhein, located not too far from scientific Darmstadt and religious Lorsch.
Sounds good, right? Did I even mention that Biebesheim lies close to the Kühkopf-Knoblochsaue? Küh-what, you ask? You’ll love it. It’s the “largest protected area in Hesse,” encompassing some 2440 acres.
Simply put, it’s a great area to go bird watching or learning about all the local flora & fauna. Not bad, I guess Biebesheim has to compete with the nearby Odenwald, huh?
What else is nearby is an 18-hole golf course. Hey, some folks will fly halfway around the world to hit the links, so I gotta tell you about them whenever I can.
I know I’d fly halfway around the planet, not to play golf, but to party at a medieval show. Good thing I didn’t have to since Biebesheim has their own Medieval Spectacle in September. Come Christmas when there’s a Medieval Christmas Market where you can see how the holiday was celebrated a millennia ago.
Thankfully we’ve got indoor plumbing these days, which you will need if you’re going to drink (and drink and drink more) at Biebesheim’s Oktoberfest (that’s in October), or at its Summer Festival in July.
You know what else is great about this Upper Rhine Valley town? Camping. Yes, for only a few Euro you can spend the weekend at the local campground that’s in the middle of the Hessische Ried.
Sorry, not me. I’m not into the whole roughing it thing today. But I am willing to do the whole outdoorsy thing to see the Old Rhine; you know, where the Rhine River used to be before some engineering genius decided to move it.
And I’m willing to trek a thousand miles to see a medieval church. Again, I’m glad I didn’t have to because Biebesheim’s Evangelical Church was built in 1209.
Please, if you think that’s old, wait ’til you see the Roman portrait at the Heritage Museum (located at Rheinstraße 44) from around 20 B.C., and the Bronze Age helmet that was found in these parts.
That sure is a helluva lot older than the Schwedensäule, the Swedish Column that commemorates Sweden’s King Gustavus Adolphus coming through here back in 1631.
Poor King Gustav, when he was here Biebesheim didn’t have pizzerias or ice cream parlors like there is now. No wonder he moved on, and didn’t dare to stay. ;-)
