People are peculiar creatures. We like to think that we’re so much more civilized than out brethren from centuries past. But, for real, we’re not any smarter because the Bronze Age man knew a good thing when they saw it. And Durmersheim in the Upper Rhine Valley was it.
People have lived in the village of Durmersheim (including the villages of Bickersheim & Würmersheim) since around 1300 B.C. Who can fault them, the area sits along the mystic Black Forest. If given the choice, you’d might want to live here, too.
Durmersheim isn’t all old buildings from the Middle Ages, nor is it all a modern metropolis. It has found a perfect combo of the old mixed with the new. It’s also a place with no bus service to outlying areas on the weekends, so plan accordingly. ;-) (Don’t worry… it does have its own train station!)
If you want old, then Durmersheim can accommodate. There’s an old monastery in Bickersheim known as the Monastery Maria Bickersheim. And a Frankish grave field (approx. 600 A.D.) was found around here. We can’t leave out the 13th century pilgrimage church of St. Dionysis, either.
Durmersheim’s local history museum does a splendid job of explaining the region’s long history, in case I’ve missed something.
When you want new, Durmersheim can do that, too. Many modern restaurants can be found along Hauptstraße or on Zeppelinstraße, including an American Diner.
But, this is so close to the Black Forest! Eat your way through town trying Black Forest Ham or Black Forest Cake and a few other local specialties. Really, I’m not kidding. Eat. You won’t be sorry, the stuff just tastes “oh so good.”
Just as people have lived here for centuries, people have been making the most delicious food here for centuries. Yeah, we think we’re smarter; they’re the ones who came up with this stuff! So, who’s the true smart one? ;-)
