Do any of you remember the television show “Where in the World is Carmen Santiago”? Well, we here at MyGermanCity.com, are going to play it our way and call it “Where the Heck in Germany is Niddatal?” ;-)
So, the question is: Where do you go for roller hockey and to see the remains of 70,000 year old rhinoceros?
The answer is… in Niddatal, a Hessian town just half an hour northeast of Frankfurt.
Now, not only can you play some roller hockey, but there are three ponds to sit near to enjoy a picnic, as well as tennis courts and a large pool complex. They’re all good for working off some of those calories you consumed by eating the regionally famous Bieschter Kesselwurst (a sausage usually served with mashed potatoes, apple sauce, and sauerkraut) and Assemer Soup (a sort of vegetable soup).
Then again walking, hiking, or biking through the Nature Park Niddatal will help work off all that delicious food, too. This is where the bones from a 70,000 year old rhinoceros were found (take that Africa!). Often there are special events in the nature park, including “Bat Night” and other special forest expeditions.
BTW, Niddatal also offers a 3km guided tour along the Storchenweg or “Stork Path,” too.
When you’ve got the history bug, Niddatal’s got you! Its Ilbenstadt Monastery is the oldest in the Wetterau, built in 1123.
There’s also the pilgrimage church of St. Gangolf to visit, too. Another church to see is the Basilica Maria, St. Petrus & Paulus — so grand is this church that it’s named for more than just one saint! It’s also called the Cathedral of Wetterau, so if you hear it referred that way — you know you’re in the right place.
Even older than these medieval and subsequent time periods in Niddatal (but nowhere near as old as that rhinoceros) is the the reconstructed Roman fountain.
With all this to see and do, aren’t you glad you decided to play “Where the Heck in Germany is This Niddatal” with me? ;-)
