Bensheim

Bensheim is the largest town in the Bergstraße district of southern Hesse, with a population of around 40,000. It sits on the historic Bergstraße, an ancient north–south trade route running roughly 80 km from Darmstadt through Heidelberg to Wiesloch along the western edge of the Odenwald forest, in use since Roman times and recorded under that name from 1165. Overlooking the town from the hills is Auerbach Castle, built around 1225 by Count Diether IV of Katzenelnbogen to secure the family's southern territories; it was destroyed by French forces under General Turenne during the Dutch War in 1674, and since a restaurant opened there in 1888 it has become one of the region's most popular excursion destinations, with a renovated tower open to visitors since 2007. Bensheim is also known for wine — the Bergsträßer Wine Festival, held over nine days from the first Saturday of September, draws more than 100,000 visitors and ranks among Germany's largest wine festivals.

By train

Bensheim is on the railway line running from Darmstadt and continues south of Weinheim . There is also a branch line from Bensheim to Worms .

Bensheim is served by the Verkehrsverbund Rhein-Neckar (VRN) public transportation network which offers day tickets to explore the Bergstraße region southwards from Zwingenberg by regional train, bus or tram. The railway station has a staffed ticket office ( DB Reisezentrum ) where you can purchase VRN as well as DB (railway) tickets.

There are trains to Darmstadt and to Worms roughly every hour.

By car

Bensheim is on the A5 between Darmstadt and Heidelberg .

Bensheim's Marktplatz and old town are compact and walkable; Auerbach Castle sits in the hills above the town and is reached by road or trail. The VRN network's regional buses connect the wider Bergstraße area.

Marktplatz

( town's market square ).

 

Marktbrunnen

( Market Fountain ).

dates from 1895  

House No. 22 .

former Gasthaus 'Zur Armbrust', built in 1615 – timber-framed corner house with a two-storey bay and half-hipped roof  

House No. 21 .

renaissance timber framework (built around 1600) of this three-storey house appears relatively unaltered.  

House No. 16-18 .

ensemble of three identical timber-framed houses built in 1682 “as an adornment of the Market Square” dominate its southern side.

Bergstraße .

Drive along the Landstraße taking in the historic towns along the way.

Blauer Aff ,

Kappengasse 2 - Bensheim-Auerbach ,

☏

+49 6251-72958 .

from 5PM .

Very nice restaurant and wine pub. With atrium to sit outside during warm summer nights.

Parkhotel Krone

( Best Western ),

Darmstädter Str. 168 ,

☏

+49 6251 989910 .

  ( updated Jan 2016 )

Tobbaccon Hotel ,

Albert-Einstein-Allee 7 ,

☏

+49 6251 944970 .

  ( updated Jan 2016 )

• Berlin — Germany's capital city, reachable by regional train
• Nearby towns in Hessen — explore the surrounding region