You gotta love the Upper Rhine Valley. Where else will you find the little (and I do mean little) town of Maxdorf?
This seven square kilometer village lies just west of Ludwigshafen (and not all that far from the spa town of Bad Dürkheim) in the Palatinate, and is part of a larger Collective Municipality.
For as diminutive and charming as Maxdorf is, it is big on fun. Every year towns folk kick up their heels at the Church Fete in August, then again at the Christmas Market on the weekend before Advent.
Too bad the Summer Festival is held only once every two years.
Oh well, good thing there’s a castle (in Fußgönheim) to keep you busy. The Hallbergsches Schloss (Hallberg Castle) might be a museum today, but when it was built in 1728 it was just some aristocrat’s home. Sure must be nice to be nobility. ;-)
The other museum in Maxdorf is the Deutsche Kartoffelmuseum or German Potato Museum, also in Fußgönheim. A lot of dishes in German cuisine are made with the potato, so it’s only proper to have one dedicated to the grain. Ahh, you thought I was gonna say veggie — but it ain’t. ;-)
The building itself is a piece of Maxdorf’s history — it was once a synagogue. And not too far is an old Jewish cemetery.
That isn’t the only old building around town. BASF built a settlement of sorts so their workers had someplace to live.
They also needed someplace to pray. Which is why the Church of St. Maximilian and the Protestant Church were built at the turn of the last century.
Over on the Friedhofstrasse is a WWII Memorial, a unique obelisk monument decorated with an Imperial Cross. And in the Maxdorfer Forest is a stone cross that commemorate those who lost their lives at a battle that took place here between German and French troops.
All that’s left to do in Maxdorf is to find a hiking trail or bike path that runs along the protected nature area. A quiet walk or cycle ride can do wonders, don’t ya think?
Besides, it won’t take you too long. Remember, Maxdorf isn’t all that big in size, but it sure does make up for it with heart. :-)