Gersthofen, outside of Augsburg, could be called the balloon capital of the world. Since 1786, Gersthofen has been a popular launch point for balloonists and today more hot-air balloons launch from this town than from all points in the world put together. So bring a picnic and watch the balloons take off! :-)
No wonder the primary attraction is a balloon museum. This museum, five stories high, features a variety of gondolas and thousands of balloon related displays and artifacts. Interactive exhibits encourage adults and children alike to explore and experiment.
In the winter, from November to February, a winter ice-skating rink is set up in the town hall square. Two new sports arenas, with artificial turf, lure top soccer teams to the area.
As with many German cities, this town has frequent markets and festivals. The town’s major festival is the Citizens Gersthoferstaße Fest and a lively Christmas market is held in the town square.
Gersthofen offers a variety of cultural events in the city center. Visit the Town Hall to see the sculptures on display, or check out the open-air cinema in the summer months.
Other attractions are a water park, the Gerfriedswelle Gersthofe, which features a diving tower, waterfalls and whitewater channels, water slides, a soccer field, fitness center, and coffee shop.
Five kilometers away, in the great city of Augsburg, you can explore dozens of museums including the Museum of Jewish Culture, the Roman Museum full of discoveries from the Roman ruins sprinkled throughout Germany, the Bertholt Brecht house, and the home of Mozart’s father, Leopold. Children will enjoy a trip to the Augsburg Puppet Theater Museum.
If you are looking for a more active adventure, the 1972 Munich Olympics canoe slalom course is one of the safest white water courses in the world. Although it has features with daunting names like the “washing machine,” the course has no dangerous submerged objects or rough edges. Rent a canoe and go for a ride.
