It’s a head shaker how Germany could be a leader and innovator in things like technology, science, and medicine. But when it comes to naming its towns, there isn’t all that much. Case in point, Sulzbach am Main in Lower Franconia.
There are a few Sulzbachs in Germany, and that’s not even to confuse you with one of its villages, Soden (one of the three that make up this Sulzbach, just so you know). Which, by the way, used to be called Bad Sodenthal, and changed so that you wouldn’t confuse it with other Sodens.
Cripes, I just confused myself and I’m writing this thing…
Forget it, let’s just talk about Sulzbach am Main’s Wine Festival in July and its Wiesenfest in August instead. Or, about its Oktoberfest that’s really in October. Ohhh, the Advent Bazaar in November is a warm-up for December’s Christmas Market on the Kirchplatz.
It isn’t just the festivals that make Sulzbach a winner. Lying along the western edge of the Spessart, Sulzbach is a hiker’s delight. The same goes for mountain bikers, the area is ripe with all sorts of trails for both. Don’t get all excited if you’re just a regular old bike rider — there are paths for you too.
Sulzbach’s great for the history loving crowd too. Start at the Altenburg, a prehistoric castle from around 6,000 years ago. Yup, that dates it to around 4,000 B.C. where the average person only lived to be about 40.
Owhhhhh, that’s rough.
I’m pretty sure it’s because prehistoric man hadn’t found the mineral springs, located in the Sodener Park. The mineral water, found in Soden, is used in the bottling of mineral water for a very famous soft-drink company.
I won’t mention any names, but their initials are C-O-K-E. ;-)
Yeah, speaking of soft-drinks, the last place to see in Sulzbach is the Braunwarthsmühle, a 17th century mill that is now a local eatery. Food & history, it doesn’t get much better than that.
You know, I don’t care if Germany’s got a gazillion towns named Sulzbach… I think this one is unique enough to hold its own against any of ’em.
