The Odenwaldkreis — covering part of the Odenwald region — sits in a large upland forest covering most of southern Hesse and into neighboring Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg. Designated as the Naturpark Bergstraße-Odenwald (the Odenwald Mountain Road), this protected area is a small paradise dotted with picture-postcard villages, castles on mountain tops and small towns filled with half-timbered houses.
Odenwaldkreis Map
Towns & Villages in the Odenwaldkreis
- Bad König
- Beerfelden
- Brensbach
- Breuberg
- Brombachtal
- Erbach (Odenwald)
- Fränkisch-Crumbach
- Hesseneck
- Höchst im Odenwald
- Lützelbach
- Michelstadt
- Mossautal
- Reichelsheim (Odenwald)
- Rothenberg
- Sensbachtal
In Michelstadt you will find many such buildings — the most impressive being the top-heavy old town hall, perched on wooden arches with pointed towers spouting out of the roof. It is so popular with tourists and locals alike, that it actually features on a postage stamp!
The Odenwaldkreis is also famed for actually having descendants of the Counts of Erbach (from the Holy Roman Empire) still living in the castles around the capital of this district which now bears their name. The town is also famous for having a harness-racing track used for many meets through the year.
And speaking of Holiness, Bad König with its awesome spa center makes you feel like a King. Make good use of it! ;-)
Spring starts here earlier than elsewhere in the state and in late March the trees are in blossom. As a result, this area has small high-quality vineyards.
