Out of thirty-one square kilometers, more than a quarter of the town of Modautal is totally forested. As a German who truly appreciates “green areas” (as most Germans do), I’m excited to get to know the place a bit better.
You’ll find this “green” town in the Odenwald, just fifteen kilometers south of Darmstadt. Amazing how you’ll find a forest such a short distance from a major bustling city, huh? It’s no wonder the village of Asbach (one of 10) was a winner of the Unser Dorf soll schöner werden, or Our Village Is Beautiful contest.
Another way to appreciate the serene beauty of Modautal is from atop the Kaiserturm; an observation tower that can boast some of the best views of the Odenwald and Upper Rhine Valley.
Some of the other ways to experience the natural side of Modautal is along one of its many marked hiking routes. The Modautalweg follows along the Modau River, and there’s the Cider Route which are routes that detail all the fruit growing areas around town.
No visit to Modautal should ever be without seeing the Felsenmeerdrachen, known as the Rock Goblins. Take a guided tour to learn more about these “sea rocks” — informative about the region’s geological changes.
Modautal even has a Heimatmuseum (Local History Museum), which also boasts one of the largest water wheels in the entire Odenwald. I don’t know if that’s really true (I never measured them all), but I do appreciate a good museum. There’s also the Geo Nature Park to visit, a nature reserve area with a great number of different plants and animals.
What else there are a variety of here in Hesse are festivals. The Rhine in Flames is a really popular one, but it’s in the colder months that the Laternenfest, the Glühweinfest, and Christmas Market take place.
That Glühweinfest was enough for me to forget that the castle in the village of Ernsthofen doesn’t allow visitors. Oh well, it was off to see the pretty Pfarrkirche (Parish Church) and the village’s half-timbered houses instead. And then it was off to Brandau to see its War Cemetery, its old mill, and clock tower. Last stop was one of Modautal’s BBQ areas.
Nothing wrong with ending a fine day with a tasty beer and good food in a fantastic town. Thanks, Modautal. :-)
