Bergstraße-Odenwald

The UNESCO Geopark Bergstraße-Odenwald unites two regions between the Rhine, Main and Neckar rivers. The Bergstraße region is Germany’s spring garden, something that even the Romans recognised.

Frankenstein Castle is a wonderful place to give yourself the creeps. Its ancient walls and associated legends make it a wonderfully eerie place for ghost stories.

The mighty complex of Auerbach Castle in the Rhine-Neckar Metropolitan Region is situated above the town of Bensheim.

In the small Bergstraße wine region, more than 400 winegrowers cultivate a variety of vines ranging from Burgundy to Dornfelder. One speciality is the Red Riesling, an ancient grape variety that has thankfully been rediscovered.

Due to being the home of a number of important research institutions, Darmstadt has held the ‘City of Science’ title since 1997. One such facility of international importance is the European Space Agency’s operations centre.

Starkenburg Castle is perched atop the Schlossberg, 295m above the town of Heppenheim. Little remains of the upper castle from 1065 and the impressive keep was only rebuilt in 1930.

The Mathildenhöhe complex in Darmstadt with its Wedding Tower and Russian Chapel is the city’s main landmark. It was here in 1899 that the Darmstadt Artists’ Colony was founded and existed until 1914.

Lorsch Abbey, located in the Rhein-Neckar Metropolitan Region, is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The impressive Königshalle entrance hall is the abbey’s best preserved building and a real highlight from the early Carolingian period.