All right, all right, I know there are only so many adjectives you can use to say how wonderful and fantastic a place is. But, when it comes to the town of Blaufelden, I’d have to say absolutely delightful comes to mind.
How could it not? You’ll find it right in Franconia, spread out over ninety square kilometers of tree lined streets, with imposing church towers, and wonderful bicycle trails.
As for those bike trails, they all have a “seven” theme to them; with names like the Seven Forest Tour, Seven Quarries Tour, and Seven Villages Tour. I guess there’s something to be said for the lucky number seven, ’cause you should consider yourself lucky if you’re pedaling on one of them.
You should consider yourself more than lucky if you’re able to see the formidable tower of the St. Ulrich Church, built on this spot just shy of six hundred years ago. Over in the village of Gammesfeld there’s another fortified church, this one dedicated to St. Nicholas.
The Middle Ages had a building boom, I guess; although you might not be able to tell since there’s nothing left of the Burgrest Hertenstein. The castle wasn’t around too long, built in the 1200s it didn’t survive past the 14th century. Too bad, I bet it was a beauty.
Oh well, I’ll have to take comfort in one of Blaufelden’s festivals. Once famous for its Piglet Market, these days the town’s known for its Taubenmarkt (Pigeons Market, mid-January), its Töpfermarkt (Pottery Market) in June, the Christmas Market on the first weekend of Advent, and its regular Weekly Market on Saturday mornings.
However, the biggest event to come to town now happens yearly: the Hohenlohe Folk Festival. For more than a century, people from all over (and beyond) come for the food, beer tents, and parades at Pentecost. I’d say that’s a fine way to spend a weekend, wouldn’t you?
At least you don’t have to wait that long for the Eisenbahn und Dampfmodell Museum (Railway & Steam Model Museum) to open; they open their doors on the last Sunday of the month from 1pm-5pm.
I told you Blaufelden is delightful, as well as fun and historic and pretty and… well, the adjectives could just go on and on. ;-)
