Korbach lies nestled near the heart of Central Germany, on a wide plain circled with hills giving beautiful vistas. Though the town is more than 1,000 years old, the area was originally known for its wild chicken population. It’s from these birds that the town earned its nickname of Feldhühnerchen, or Little Chicken.
The birds were on to something, however. The area is rich in natural resources that have influenced its development. You can take advantage of them as well during your visit.
First you can appreciate the above-ground charms. Hike up one of the hills to survey the area, and be sure you know how to work the panoramic feature on your camera to get the best postcard worthy shots. You’ll be able to capture views of the main town and historical center as well as the neighboring hamlets.
The heart of Korbach is marked by cheerful old towers and church spires. When you walk into the well-kept Old Town, located just inside the restored town walls, you’ll want to be sure to hit the main attractions. They are the Kilianskirche, the Nikoliakirche, the medieval pillory, and the Georg Viktor Tower. You can climb the tower for another stunning view.
Coming down, you can start your journey to Korbach’s sparkling underground. You’ll want to take the time to walk the Gold Trail, which passes by the big mining sites in the area and drops you near the Visitor’s Mine. Here you can tour some of Germany’s most important mining sites and even try your own hand at the mining experience.
It’s rather neat, actually, and the tunnels built in the really old days are impressive. The revenues from the mines also helped the town survive plagues, droughts, wars, wars, and more wars to emerge relatively unscathed. The prospect of real gold payment also helped establish a market culture in the area.
You can hit the surviving market festivals throughout the year as there is a market nearly every other month. The Medieval Market and the Christmas Market being the best of the bunch. The Old Town Cultural festival is also a good time — bring your camera, of course, and a love for Little Chicken. ;-)