Here it is, a very early mid-spring Thursday morning, the sun barely breaking the horizon — and here I am behind the computer screen thinking of the wonders of Emmelshausen in the wonderful Hunsrück. That would be both the town itself and the Verbansgemeinde (Collective Municipality) of the same name, mind you.
The town itself, a climatic spa, doesn’t even measure eight square kilometers. But, when added in with its 24 other districts, it grows quite exponentially. And if you wanted to see all of it — you’re gonna need more than just one quiet morning.
That being said, there’s a serene beauty in the crumbly walls of the Rauschenburg in the morning light. But, any time of day is good to see a ruin of a medieval castle that’s been overtaken by vegetation.
Mornings make a good time to hike the many trails in the Heilbrünnchen area, or cycle around the Schinderhannes Radweg. Even better that some 38 kilometers runs along what was once the Hunsrückbahn Route, wouldn’t you say?
Now I get that not everyone is a morning person, so take leisurely time to visit the Villa Rustica in Lingerhahn, or its St. Sebastian Church. And the Agrarhistorisches Museum (an agricultural museum) isn’t open in the wee hours of the day — but when it is open you’ll find exhibits dating back to the Stone Age.
All right, I know by now not everyone is into the whole history thing, but who isn’t into a party? It’s a big one during the Kirmes, a 4-day affair in July. And the Weinmarkt comes in August, and the Christkindelmarkt in November. Let’s not forget about the Hexennacht (Witches Night) celebrations, or the Corpus Christi Processions either.
If you’re really lucky, you’ll be here for one of the musicals, concerts and theaters held at the Zentrum am Park (ZAP).
With all this going on you’d never suspect Emmelshausen was pretty much uninhabited around 500 years ago.
Oooh, did I just sneak in a tidbit of history again? Let’s blame it on the early hour, I’m not awake yet. ;-)
