Just because Husum is called the “gray town by the sea” doesn’t mean that it is always gray and needs to be avoided. This town in Schleswig-Holstein is on the North Sea and is perhaps most famous for being the hometown of the famous novelist Theodor Storm who gave the town this nickname.
The town didn’t get it’s name of the gray town without a reason. Storms can tear through this town every seas of the year, with the sky being gray for days on end.
Tourists who want to know more about Theodor Storm should plan a visit to where he lived from 1886 to 1880. Not only can you see the house like it was more than a hundred years ago, but you can also see the nearby archives and learn more about this great German poet and novelist and also about the latest research that is being done.
Because of Husum’s location on the North Sea, there is the inevitable museum about the sea. The Sea Faring Museum has interesting models on what ships have looked like since the Middle Ages. A second museum, the North Sea Museum shows treasures that have been found in the sea, information on how to protect the coast and information on daily life for residents who work on the sea.
Who doesn’t love Christmas? If you are a scrooge at heart, don’t take a trip to the Christmas House. Not only are there Christmas displays, but there is also an old fashioned shop from 1890.
Need a tip on when to travel to Husum? The best time is in early spring. That’s when the thousands (millions?) of crocuses are in full bloom around castle. The castle dates back to the 16th century and is a big tourist attraction both when the flowers are in bloom and when they aren’t.
If you are too early for the crocuses, you might just have time to run the annual winter marathon. Since 1972, this annual marathon takes place in February or March and is one of the longest running marathons in Germany.
To get a good view of the whole city, the surrounding area and the North Sea, climb up the 135 stairs to the top of the city water tower. It isn’t in operation as a water tower anymore, but now serves as a tourist destination.
