I swear, I wish I had all the time in the world, simply because I’d need it to see and play in (and around) the Middle Franconian town of Pleinfeld. Add in the time it would take to learn about the town’s history, and I’d probably have to live until around the age of 135.
We Germans are making major strides in both medicine and spiritual consciousness, so maybe that is a possibility.
But, I digress… I think we’ll kick off Pleinfeld with its Local History Museum. Sorry, the Heimat- und Brauereimuseum, which is the Local History and Brewery Museum.
See, I let the Bavarian beer thing slide without a joke. Until now. ;-)
Also part of Pleinfeld’s history is the Spalter Tor, a gate of the defense wall (that’s still partly attached) built in 1548; many half-timbered houses; and the Altes Vogteischloss with its charming garden.
They all sound pretty old, huh? But they’re nothing compared to the Celtic grave mounds.
It’s time to move on to the outdoors, the recreational side of Pleinfeld. Three huge lakes (the Großer Brombachsee, the Kleine Brombachsee, and the Igelsbachsee) are all yours to enjoy.
Each of them offers hiking and cycling trails around them (at 17.5km, 8.5km, and 6.5km respectively). Of course, that’s not all. You can chill out on the beach, sail, boat, fish, and canoe ’til the cows come home.
As if you wouldn’t be tired enough, Pleinfeld has bungee-trampolining (not for the faint of heart), golfing, high rope climbing (again, not for the faint of heart — and neither is careening down the Summer toboggan track), mountainbiking, and for more genteel pursuits — carriage rides.
Winter won’t be left out of the fun. There’s skiing for when the mercury drops to chiller numbers.
What could be better than all this?
Festivals. Lots and lots of festivals, as well as markets and regattas.
September is a big month around Pleinfeld — with the Autumn Regatta, Seeland Marathon Run, Oktoberfest, and Trödelmarkt (Flea Market). July’s pretty active too, that’s when Pleinfeld holds its Dorffest (Village Festival) and Waldsportfest (Forest Sport Festival).
Come to think of it… With all these festivals, sports, and all-around good cheer, I hope more people find their way to live for 135 years. Because I certainly don’t want to spend all those years ALONE in Pleinfeld. ;-)
