At first thought when I began to write this page on the Hessian town of Eiterfeld, I considered jumping right into its history. Then I thought, “what about its natural history”?
Nope, I’m going for the gusto. Camel trekking.
Bet you didn’t see that coming, did you? ;-)
That’s right, Ladies & Gentlemen, no need to go all the way to Mongolia to ride a real Mongolian Camel; you can do it right here in Eiterfeld, Germany.
Never rode a camel? Never even been close to one? It’s a lot of fun — although their breath could do with a toothbrush or even just a breathmint. But, don’t let a little bad breath stop you. :-)
Move from stinky camel breath to something that smells a whole helluva lot better, the Aroma Museum. The entire museum is dedicated to delicious smelling essential oils (like lavender, citrus, that kind of thing). Add in exhibits on wine making and beer brewing and you’ve got yourself a fresh smelling learning experience.
Another kind of learning experience is at the Border Museum at the Point Alpha Memorial. Appropriate since Eiterfeld was a town that was on the border between what was once West and East Germany. Eiterfeld still borders Thuringia, but crossing now is a snap. The museum offers group tours, hiking paths along the former border, and even a youth camp.
Not ready to head back indoors yet? Perfect, since there’s a former Military Cemetery to see and 111 steps to climb at the Soisbergturm that offers views as far as the Wartburg Castle.
If you’d rather be golfing, Eiterfeld can accommodate with both a 9- and 18-hole golf course.
Goodness, I almost left out the 240 million year old dinosaur tracks. Hello, natural history this old — and I almost left it out. Good thing I caught myself. ;-)
I guess I got too excited thinking about all of Eiterfeld’s festivals, like the Dorffest (September), the Church Festival at St. George’s (also September), and the Spring Fair on the third Sunday in March.
Between all the festivals and the camel trekking, I almost didn’t have time to see Eiterfeld’s castles. Burg Fürsteneck (built 1250) might now be a boarding school but it’s still a fine example of medieval architecture. While Schloss Buchenau offers a look into what’s known as Weser Renaissance architecture.
Impressed with what you’ll find in Eiterfeld? I knew you would be as soon as I said camel trekking. ;-)
