What could a town that’s covered by 40% forest possibly have for the average Joe (or, Jane)? Oh, you have no idea in the case of Drolshagen. Don’t let the heavily wooded mountainous Sauerland background fool you, because this place ROCKS! Figuratively and literally.
The literally falls into the Drolhagen Blow Music Fest. Held every three years, thousands from all over gather at the Marktplatz to sit at umbrella shaded tables listening to some great tunes; the last one was held in 2010.
That’s not Drolhagen’s only claim to festive fame. Join all of town’s locals (from its 58 hamlets) on the 3rd weekend in September for its annual Harvest & Animal Celebration. Let the kids pet the little baby calfs while mom & dad can enjoy a good beer.
After a few brewskis, give a go at the Drolshagener Labyrinth. It’s winding, twisting, and will make for quite a few laughs.
You might want to be a bit more somber (oh, maybe sober) when you visit the ruins of the old 13th century Drolshagen Monastery or St. Clements Romanesque Church.
The church itself is a pretty interesting piece of town history. It was consecrated by the Archbishop Anno, who later went on to become St. Anno II, somewhere between 1050 and 1075. Its famous bells were added in 1491 and its baptismal font has been baptizing babies since the 13th century.
And the Mary’s Chapel has been a place of pilgrimage for years, where the devout come once a year in May to pray.
Sorry, you can’t visit the old Eichener Mühle, though. The mill has been around since 1512, but now it’s on private property. Although, there are a few places where you’re able to grab at least a snapshot of it.
Make sure your camera has lots of memory, you’re gonna need it around these parts. Oh, and don’t forget some really comfy walking shoes! :-)
