You know what’s really remarkable about Germany? The fact that you can actually be part of a “Metropolitan Region” and right in a nature area at the same time (half the town is still farmland). Well, at least Oedheim in northern Baden-Württemberg is.
There wasn’t any Stuttgart Metro Region when the Celts were here back a few thousand years ago. Nor was it a Metro Region when the Romans came along later on.
That’s not to say that Oedheim wasn’t important — there were Roman estates (like the one in the village of Falkenstein) and other Roman buildings here. In fact, Oedheim’s Trinity Chapel is thought to have been built on original Roman foundations.
Oedheim’s Roman days seem like such a long time ago, but the Stone Age grave mounds found in the village of Lautenbach are even older.
Drats — I was going back in history. Now telling you about the Teutonic Knights’ Coat of Arms from the 18th century in the village of Degmarn just doesn’t seem that old.
Who cares — there’s a castle! That’s right, the Schloß Hofgut Lautenbach. And it isn’t the only one in Oedheim. You’ll just have to be content seeing Schloss Oedheim (a.k.a. Bautzen Castle) from the outside since it’s privately owned.
You’re more than welcome to see some of Oedheim’s many churches. The Christ Church is the youngest of them all, built only in the mid-20th century; but the St. Mauritius Church has been around for more than six centuries.
Do you mind if we go back to Degmarn for a minute? Great — this way I can tell you this village of around 800 people has its own village church worth seeing, as well as two chapels, and an old Backhaus (Bake House).
What’s just as nice about the town’s historical sites are its festivals. The Kochfest is one of the most popular, held at the end of June. March has the Josefsmarkt, while on April 30th is the Maifest, followed by the Maibaumfest in early May.
We haven’t even gotten to the cycling trails and hiking paths through the Swabian-Franconian Forest yet — and I’m already tired.
Oh well, guess it’s best to find a place to stay the night — you didn’t really think you’d be able to do this all in one day, did you?
