Liebenbachstadt Spangenberg is one Hessian town with a heart as big as its name. You’ll find its twelve districts (with totally German names like Bergheim, Bischofferode, Landefeld — you get the drift) just 35 km southeast of Kassel.
You’ll also find it along a couple of scenic routes. Not the typically famous ones (yet), but, for instance, along a 23km section of the 326 km long Barbarossaweg (yeah, an uber hiking trail), running from Melsungen to Reichenbach (part of Hessisch Lichtenau). It also has a place of honor along the Kunstwanderweg, which is dedicated entirely to art and sculpture.
Before rushing off to tackle anymore of Barbarossa’s Trail, or finding art along the Kunstwanderweg, you should get to know Spangenberg a bit better.
Would you stay longer if I told you there were a number of gorgeous half-timbered houses found in its Altstadt, or Old Town? Or what about a castle? Of course you would, how silly of me. Schloss Spangenberg has been around a long time, 1235 to be exact. Although its current look didn’t come along for another few centuries after that — all thanks to Wilhelm the Wise.
Wise he was in decorating Spangenberg’s landmark. This old hunting lodge has been used for a number of things, including a prison and school. Today it houses Spangenberg’s Castle Museum.
A hundred years after the castle was built, Spangenberg’s Hospital & Church of St. Elisabeth was built (1338); and it’s still here almost 700 years later. The old Carmelite Monastery wasn’t so lucky — built in 1357, only to be closed forever in 1526.
What else can we find in Spangenberg? You’ll find a former synagogue, as well as an old Jewish cemetery. And the Stadtkirche St. Johannes, built and renovated throughout the 13th to 15th centuries.
The only thing left to do is shop at Spangenberg’s Kellermarkt in November, and the Advent Market (right on the Marktplatz to make it easy) on the first weekend of Advent.
I can tell you that’ll be easy to get distracted along the Marktplatz, as the local Town Hall is so prettily decorated with its flowerboxes, and here’s where you’ll find the Marktplatzbrunnen (fountain).
Yeah, Spangenberg, Liebenbachstadt, truly does have a heart as big as itself. Come see for yourself!
