All right, I’ll fess-up. Anything with the word “diet” written in it, on it, or even around it will cause me to clam up. No way will I eat it, drink it, or have anything to do with it. That was, until I found Dietenheim.
Get it? D-i-e-tenheim. OK, that’s a stretch — but I’m sure you get the idea. ;-)
You’ll find this miniscule town in the Württemberg province, right on the border of Bavaria amidst Iron Age grave hills.
And there’s no chance of gaining any weight (is this why they call it “Diet”enheim?) with all the swimming at its Badesee. What’s really cool is if you’re a certified SCUBA diver — you can do that here too.
FYI, just remember to check out all the rules before you’ve done all that artificial breathing stuff, OK?
The lake is free for everyone; and they even have a beach volleyball court, table tennis, picnic area, and a kiosk that sells snacks. Family-friendly, I’d say.
The Herrenweiher Park is also family-friendly with all sorts of walking and cycling trails, a playground for the kiddies, and a Kneipp area for tired, achy tooties.
My feet feel better already.
If you’re lucky enough to come to Dietenheim in the weeks leading up to Easter (but well after its Alemannic/Rhenish Carnival) you’ll see Das Heilige Grab. Found in the landmark church of St. Martin, this Baroque masterpiece is on display right up until the end of Holy Week.
That’s the week leading up to Easter, if you didn’t know. And don’t think you’ll see this all over Germany — it’s said to be the last of its kind in all of South Germany.
Right next to the 5-pointed tower of St. Martin is the yellow, flowerbox decorated, rounded-archway Rathaus (Town Hall).
Thankfully, I didn’t have to eat like I was on a diet — Dietenheim is full of bakeries, cafes, bistros, and pizza joints.
Umm… maybe I should consider something diet before I can’t get into my clothes. ;-)
Nah, I’ll just have a healthy lunch served at the Kloster Brandenburg. Just don’t go expecting a medieval monastery — they’ve only been around since the 1960’s; and you’re more than welcome to spend a few nights at their guesthouse.
Fitting, since I’ve now had to pray that my pants still fit. Good thing Dietenheim is close to the hiking trails of the Swabian Alb and the Allgäu Alps.
Wonderful — no special diet foods necessary. :-)
