Bad Hersfeld- Not so bad after all!

A warm welcome to today's blog post on the town of Bad Hersfeld, Germany

Bad Hersfeld's Town Hall

Quick Facts:

• Bad Hersfeld is located in the state of Hessen, in central Germany

• The term 'Bad' refers to the town's prominence as a 'spa town'

• The town is famous for the "Bad Hersfelder Festspiele" (cultural festival) held yearly in the Stiftsruine (monstry ruins)

• The 'Lullusfest', Europe's oldest folk festival, takes place every year in October

• The town's crest consists of the 'Lion of Hessen' and a double cross

• The town hall serves as an important and recognisable symbol of the area (pictured above)

• Bad Hersfeld is located on the "German Timber Frame Road"

Typical Timber buildings fill the town

As is the question with anywhere that I have visited... How did I end up in Bad Hersfeld? If you have read my previous blog post on Bebra, you will know that Bad Hersfeld is a town around 15 minutes away from where I used to live and therefore a quick and easy place to which to pop. Although not so easy on the purse... For return ticket I would usually have to pay around € 8.70! Don't get me started on the cost of train travel in Germany! Anyway I used to visit the town at least once a week to go shopping, pop to the library (I still have my library card!) and also visit this really cool swap-shop, called Piggy Bank, where I picked up some really cool bits and pieces

Introducing Bad Hersfeld

Bad Hersfeld is another little town tucked away in the German countryside. The town is typical of many towns in Germany with its abundance of timber frame houses, a beautiful town hall, several churches, and weekly markets where one can purchase locally grown produce, plants, flowers and so forth.

Another aspect that makes the Bad Hersfeld 'typically German' is the town's prominence as a spa town. From what I have read the Kurpark (spa park) offers various facilities such as rehabilitation centres and various treatments involving mineral rich thermal water. The grounds around the area are a nice place to have a wander around even if you are not necessarily there to have treatment.

Bad Hersfeld's Kurpark

Stiftsruine

Bad Hersfeld's Stifsruine, or monastery ruins, are another key symbol of the town. The ruins are used during the summer months to host the 'Bad Hersfelder Festspiele' (Theatre Festival) which involves various musical and theatrical productions.

Outside of the theatre season it is possible to enter the ruins for a small fee. You can wander around inside and also take the stairs up to the bell tower and see the views of the town and the surrounding area (hills, hills and more hills!)

Inside the Bad Hersfelder Stiftsruine (monastery ruins)

Lullusfest

As previously mentioned Bad Hersfeld is home to Germany's oldest folk festival. The festival began in the year 852 and is held every year in October in honour of Lullus, the first Abbot the Hersfeld monastery/the first Archbishop of the city of Mainz.

During the festivities there are live music acts, an amusement park in the middle of the town and many other events such as the 'Lollslauf', which is a race of varying distances, through and around the town. Both adults and children may take part in the races, with the children's race covering a shorter distance.

Views from the bell tower of the Stiftsruine (monastery ruins)

How to get to Bad Hersfeld:

Bad Hersfeld can be easily reached from the following cities:

• Fulda (35 minutes)

From Fulda to Bad Hersfeld, take either the R5/RT5 or the R7 line

• Kassel (1 hour, 10 minutes)

From Kassel to Bad Hersfeld, take the R5/RT5 line

• Eisenach (1 hour)

From Eisenach, travel to Bebra on the R6 line. Alight in Bebra and then take the

R5/RT5 line to Bad Hersfeld

Hopefully this has been an interesting insight into the pretty little town of Bad Hersfeld. The town is a great place to visit if you're looking for a traditional German spa town with a festival flare. Bad may be in its name, but this town is anything but!

See you soon/Bis Bald,

R. H. Dunster

Bad Hersfeld... Du bist prima!