Imagine if you were like a few hundred years old, and someone just decides to change your name? Well, that happened in 1971 to Annerod, Albach, and Steinbach. They became Fernwald.
Far be it from me to judge. I’ll just give you a piece of info on each one, so you know where you’re at. Annerod is surrounded by forest, while Albach is the least populated, and Steinbach the most (and oldest).
Wanna know where else you’re at? Surrounded by the Westerwald, the Vogelsberg, the Wetterau, the Lahn Valley, and the Taunus.
With this kind of location, you could change my name to Little Mary Sunshine for that matter — so long as I could stay here forever. ;-)
I know I joke around a lot, but I do take medieval sites seriously. Fernwald is close to what used to be the Kloster Schiffenberg; a monastery that’s still used for religious services and cultural events in the summer.
This ain’t the only church in town. Albach has an Evangelical one from the 1770s, and Annerod’s from the 1880s. Each are also known for the half-timbered houses from the 17th and 18th centuries.
FYI, not too much remains from Steinbach’s buildings prior to 1842, when it was totally and completely destroyed by fire.
As a whole, Fernwald has shops and stores, eateries and a pedestrian zone, two 18-hole golf courses, tennis courts, and no less than 10 playgrounds for the kids.
Hmm, family friendly!
Another family friendly activity would be Nordic Walking or hiking through the region. Again, the Westerwald, the Taunus… Do I gotta keep going?
You could always bike your way around. Feeling adventurous? Ride out to the nearby Klosterruine Arnsburg. That would be the ruins of the Monastery Arnsburg.
After going that far, a soak at the swimming pool and sauna is much appreciated. And a night at the only hotel in town (the Hotel Einhorn) would be, too.
Better call ahead to ’em if you’re coming for one of Fernwald’s festivals like the Apfelweinfest (Cider Fest) or all the Carnival celebrations that go on around here.
I hope they don’t change the name of the town on ya, before you get here. ;-)
