It’s hard to imagine how a city like Hünfeld with its surrounding fourteen villages manages to fill all of its 120 square kilometers (or approximately 74 square miles) with art, history, culture, and sports so elegantly. Yet still, it’s easy to see just how beautiful this town is, right down to the flower box framed City Hall.
Situated in the shadow of the Basalt Mountains, the surrounding forest, and the Rhön Mountains in the Fulda District of Hesse, Hünfeld technically dates back to the year 781 but with plenty of evidence that it has been inhabited since around the Stone Age.
It was the founding of the town’s monastery that really put Hünfeld on the map, along with its strategic location on the medieval commercial route between Leipzig and Frankfurt.
Today, the town’s monastery St. Bonifatius plays host to some 8000 guests a year.
Much of Hünfeld’s medieval buildings were destroyed when a fire ravaged the city in 1885, but rebounded when it had to rebuild just about everything.
Hünfeld was the home of Konrad Zuse, the inventor of the first functional computer (way to go Herr Zuse!). Go visit the Zuse Museum dedicated to the life of one of the town’s most famous residents. There’s also plenty to see and do at the City and Historic District Museum (Stadt- und Kreisgeschichtliches Museum).
Since art plays a significant role in the town’s daily life one of the best sights to see is the open air art museum, completely built without walls! Even the town’s train station gets in on the art action with its Gallery of Young Artists’ Circle. And the town is home to yet another art museum, the Museum of Modern Art.
Besides art, sports are of great importance here, too. It definitely is a equine-friendly city with a chance to see it on horseback. There are also cycling and Nordic Walking routes to get you moving in the great outdoors.
Or perhaps a round of golf is on the agenda with both an 18-hole and 9-hole courses available? Or what about its requisite outdoor swimming pool for a refreshing dip?
When it’s wintertime, you’ll only fall in love with Hünfeld more as you enjoy the scenic countryside while skating on the frozen Haselsee lake.
Finally, plan to visit during the Gaalbernfest in August/September and you’ll be treated to some of the area’s best wine and regional cuisine as well as great performances from local artists.
