Known as a “bedroom community” for Erlangen, the town of Hemhofen is anything but sleepy. Not that the town is hopping with nightclubs and excitement 24-hours/7-days a week kind of thing — but it isn’t without stuff to see and do.
One of the most noticeable things in Hemhofen are its old buildings along Hauptstraße (many from the 17th & 18th centuries), and Schloss Hemhofen, built in 1722. While it might’ve started off as a traditional castle, I can’t help thinking it has a “government building” kind of feel to it these days.
Oh well, nevermind, its off to another historical site, the old Jewish Cemetery in the village of Zeckern. I heard it’s one of the oldest cemeteries of its kind here in Bavaria, and used for burials for some 400 years. Within the cemetery you’ll find a Taharahaus (used for proper Jewish burials) and a memorial stone to those who lost their lives to the Nazis.
While there’s not too much else to see in Hemhofen, it doesn’t mean you’re done. You could plan accordingly so you’re here for the Dorffest, or Village Festival. Festivities kick off with a traditional church service, but the party only takes place on odd-numbered years.
Hey, at least the Kirchweih Hemhofen and Kirchweih Zeckern take place annually. Hemhofen’s party is three days of fun in May, while Zeckern’s is another three days of partying in June. Sweet!
Then again, Germans love some peace & quiet, so if you’re in search of solitude the nearby Markwald is perfect. The area is just fantastic for hiking — so comfortable shoes are a must. You’ll certainly need them if you’re going to hike as far as nearby Schloss Thurn and the 16th century Schloss von Bibra. ;-)
All this hiking makes you hungry, and you’re never short of finding something good to eat here. Your choice if you’d rather have Italian, Turkish, or local cuisine to munch on.
Not too bad for a town that’s not even seven square kilometers, is it? Yeah, I thought so too.
