Bensheim
Bensheim is situated between Frankfurt and Heidelberg, the largest town in the district of the Bergstrasse, nestled in the picturesque landscape between the rolling hills of the Odenwald and the sprawling plains of the Hessian Ried. Protected by the slopes of the Odenwald, the wine area “Hessian Bergstrasse” belongs to the warmest areas of Germany.
The town was first mentioned in the documents of the Lorsch Codex over 1240 years ago. In 956 Bensheim was granted market rights, and received the town charter in the 13th century. Trade and industry flourished as a result. In the year 1301, the town was burnt down and consequently governed by varying authorities. The legend goes, during the thirty year war, the „Fraa vun Bensum“ (lady of Bensheim) showed the bavarians the secret entrance to the city. This cunning plot enabled the besieged town to be freed from the Swedish. In the year 1803 Bensheim eventually became part of the county of Hesse-Darmstadt.
Today Bensheim and its nine suburbs have 40,000 inhabitants. The town is the economic and cultural hub of the district Bergstrasse. Around 200 shops of varying description, many boutiques, banks, restaurants, cafés, wine taverns and pubs, 19 hotels und guest houses, active clubs and societys, diverse freetime activities, annual fairs, numerous sights, wine and last but not least the people of Bensheim and their guests make Bensheim into a vibrant, lively and loveable town.
Enjoy the bustle of the town or just relax and unwind while taking a walk or a hike in the „German Riviera“ as this region of the Bergstrasse is often called because of its mild climate.
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