Come to the mountain town of Lampertheim for the asparagus. This vegetable has played an important role here since the year 1900. So what’s so special about asparagus?
Each June, the town holds a three-day-long Asparagus Festival where they sing songs and vote for an Asparagus Queen (Spargelkönigin). The words of the festival’s official song sum up the quirky fun of this unusual fair: :-)
Beautiful young girls
Asparagus, cigars and wine
they do it so excellently
only in Lampertheim
Asparagus and other produce is always on offer even when the Festival isn’t. Lampertheim’s twice-weekly open-air market is a vital part of town life. Regular church fairs and the obligatory Christmas market sell baked goods, hand-made crafts and other assorted delights.
A delight that is not to be missed is certainly the beautiful architecture. The Domkirche is a gorgeous Gothic sight, with its soaring tower, dark-red colored facade and many spires. And it is only one of at least eight lovely church buildings of Catholic and Protestant denominations.
If you prefer the zen quality of nature to the grandiose austerity of churches, rest assured that you’ll find plenty in Lampertheim. Not only is the town surrounded by two mountain ranges, the Odenwald and the Palatinate Forest. There are lots of opportunities for nature hikes and — of course — mountain biking.
Before you go, be sure to pay a visit to the outlying district of Hüttenfeld. This region is home to the Castle Rennhof, with its glistening white tower and red trim. Newly restored after a fire nearly destroyed it in 1984, it is now home to the only Lithuanian school in Western Europe.
By the way, Lampertheim is not only a nucleus for Lithuanian culture but also has a strong American presence. A branch of Radio Free Europe is not far outside of the town center as well as an American Air Force Base. Lampertheim’s woods often serve as a training camp for US soldiers.