As you like it - or how to savour the joys of life in Schweinfurt County
For variety of scenic beauty there are few places to beat the delightful Schweinfurt County.
This is a consequence of the area‘s special location, situated as it is between the terraces of the
Franconian vineyards, the valley of the life-giving River Main, the foothills of
the Hassberge and Rhön natural parks and the fringes of the Steigerwald. Each of these varied
and individual landscapes has contributed something distinctive to the region.
So in the Schweinfurt County the scenery is ever changing, with
sunny vineyards giving way to meadow-filled valleys, rolling hills and wide,
open vistas. This is a place both for lovers of unspoilt nature and for
connoisseurs of the cultural treasures which are to be encountered at almost
every turn. It is a pleasing, never stark, landscape which harbours much to
entrance the visitor, including important artistic and historical gems. There are romantic
medieval towns such as Grettstadt, Stadtlauringen and Gerolzhofen, with
half-timbered buildings in the old Franconian style. The magnificent castles and
mansions of the area include Balthasar Neumann‘s imposing Baroque castle at
Werneck, the four-winged moated castle at Wetzhausen, the Baroque Zeilitzheim
castle, renowned for its cultural events, and Schloss Mainberg, set high above
the river, which has become something of a symbol of the Schweinfurt County. The
still visible splendour of the old “free imperial villages” of Gochsheim and
Sennfeld bears witness to their long and varied history, and the gems in the
Treasury at Grafenrheinfeld speak to us also of an illustrious past. The southern part
of the district is the home of the vineyards. Here, sleepy wine-growing villages
such as Wipfeld, Stammheim, Falkenstein and Oberschwarzach add another note to
the multicoloured landscape of the Schweinfurt County. For centuries the inhabitants of
these often very picturesque villages have put their heart and soul into growing
the grapes for the fine Franconian wine. There are all sorts
of wine-related things to do – you don’t have to be a connoisseur of wine to
enjoy guided tours of the vineyards, heady walks from one vineyard to another,
or wine-tastings in settings which range from rustic to elegant in the small
vineyards or larger wine-growing estates.
Culinary pleasures are an important part of life in the Schweinfurt County. There is a wide range of dishes to
delight the palate – ranging from imaginatively prepared asparagus specialities
to “Zwiebelblootz” (an onion cake), and from the light local Franconian cuisine
to the famously filling “Schweinfurter Schlachtschüssel” or “butcher’s platter”,
which is not only a culinary but also a social experience. Much of the food
served in the friendly inns and restaurants is local and very fresh – for
example, the tasty asparagus from the small but very fertile area in the south
of the Schweinfurt County.
And if surplus
calories are taken on board, they can be quickly worked off – there is an
irresistible range of leisure and sporting activities on offer. Cycling and
walking are enormously popular, and can be enjoyed at their best in the Schweinfurt County.
More than 900 kilometres of cycle
routes go to make up the extensive cycle network; these routes meet ADFC
guidelines and are linked to the area‘s two long-distance cycle routes, the Main
Cycleway and the Wern Cycleway. With many different types of terrain to choose
from, families with children and leisure cyclists will find just as much to suit
them as those who enjoy a more challenging ride. Walking is unfailingly popular
and it is easy to see why: the Rhön, the Hassberge, the nearby Steigerwald and
the Main valley are wonderful landscapes always ready to unfold new and exciting
aspects. Visitors may stumble unexpectedly across imposing castles, intriguing
ruins and ancient monasteries; they can savour the panorama of the Steigerwald
from the Zabelstein viewpoint and perhaps discover one of the unusual buildings
for which the region is noted, as few of them are found elsewhere – the “Gaden”,
solidly built fortified churches of great cultural and historical importance,
found in many parts of the region.
Many other
leisure pursuits are also on offer; from fishing to woodland and adventure
playgrounds, from drives in horse-drawn coaches and carriages to the 18-hole
golf course, from riding to archery – the range of possibilities is almost
endless. In summer, water sports and swimming are of course very popular with
visitors, and for surfing, swimming, motor-boating and sailing there is nowhere
to beat the Ellertshäuser See at Stadtlauringen: covering 33 hectares, this lake
is the largest in Lower Franconia and its magnificent setting makes it a mecca
for lovers of watersports, popular with locals and tourists alike.
Culturally the Schweinfurt County also has much to offer. Schloss
Zeilitzheim at Kolitzheim has made a name for itself with its high-class
cultural events ranging from concerts to poetry readings; organisers of events
here set their sights high. Of equally good quality are the concerts held in Gerolzhofen´s parish church, the
so-called “Steigerwalddom”, the International Variety Festival in Sennfeld and
the events arranged in the “Alte Kirche” cultural centre in Schonungen. A
special highlight in the event calendar in the Schweinfurt County is without
doubt the traditional Sömmersdorf passion plays which take place every five
years (to be held next in 2013); they are held in high regard far beyond the
local area for their artistic excellence and the realism of their presentation.
And, apart from
high culture, the inhabitants of Schweinfurt County also know how to celebrate. In the
summer months, in particular, festivals of every sort take place throughout the
length and breadth of the region. Folk festivals, wine festivals, historical festivals in the town and
villages – full of tradition and often set against the romantic backdrop of the
old half-timbered buildings – are high points in the summer calendar of events.
Visitors quickly feel at home – they are cheerfully welcomed around the beer
table, over a "Schweinfurter Schlachtschüssel" or at wine tastings at the small
vineyards or larger wine-growing estates during one of the many wine festivals.
The legendary Franconian hospitality is also encountered in the comfortable inns
and guesthouses, bed and breakfast rooms and holiday apartments where visitors
are made to feel part of the family. The open and friendly manner of the local
people has given rise to many a lifelong friendship.
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