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| Oberzent | ||
| federal state | Hesse | |
|---|---|---|
| Residents | 10.180 (2019) | |
| height | 415 m | |
no tourist info on Wikidata:  | ||
| location | ||
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Oberzent is a city in the southern part of the Odenwaldkreis in South Hesse. The name Oberzent derives from the medieval judicial district Cent.
background
In terms of area, the city of Oberzent is the third largest city in Hesse (after Frankfurt am Main and Wiesbaden), and at the same time the most sparsely populated. A large part of the urban area consists of the extensive forests and mountains of the Hessian Odenwald. The city was created in 2018 through the merger of the city of Beerfelden with the formerly independent communities of Hesseneck, Rothenberg and Sensbachtal.
Geographically, the place is very rugged. While the Mümling rises in Beerfelden, which drains north into the Main, the other parts of the city are in four (!) Different valleys, all of which drain south to the Neckar. This means there are many inclines and passes that demand a lot of stamina from the hiker.
A border curiosity has achieved certain fame that still persists after the incorporation: the town of Schöllenbach is divided by the state border between Hesse and Baden-Württemberg, which runs along the small Euterbach / Itterbach, and so there is a larger Hessian and a smaller one Baden half (Badisch-Schöllenbach). Everyone who wants to drive from Schöllenbach to Hesselbach has to drive through the short stretch of Baden-Württemberg, so that the place Hesselbach forms a functional exclave (there is still a public forest road, but it also runs for a short stretch through Bavarian territory). Also along the road from Kailbach to Eberbach there are always houses (mainly former railroad keeper's houses) that are unlucky enough to be on the wrong side of the river and thus involuntarily belong to Hesse.
The region has not yet been discovered by tourism, very few people get lost here.
Districts of Oberzent are:
- Beerfelden: Airlenbach, Etzean, Hetzbach, Olten, Falken-Gesäß, Gammelsbach
- Hesseck: Hesselbach, Kailbach, Schöllenbach
- Sensbach valley: Hebstahl, Ober-Sensbach, Unter-Sensbach
- Rothenberg: Kortelshütte, Ober-Hainbrunn
getting there
By plane
The Frankfurt Airport is approx. 90 km away.
By train
The runs through Oberzent Odenwaldbahnwhich has its most spectacular section here with numerous engineering structures, including the Krähberg Tunnel, the longest single-track tunnel in Germany (3100 m). There are three train stations in the municipality, from north to south these are:
- 1 Hetzbach station
- 2 Schöllenbach-Hesselbach train station
- 3 Kailbach station.
The route is from the line RB 81 of Rhein-Main transport association (RMV), the trains run every two hours between Darmstadt and Eberbach. There are transitional tariffs in the Rhein-Neckar transport association.
None of the train stations are really centrally located so that the journey by train is only worthwhile if you take your bike with you, otherwise you will be stranded in the middle of nowhere very quickly.
By bus
On weekends in the season (April to October) the NaTourBus, a leisure bus with a bicycle trailer, runs from Eberbach through Oberzent Michelstadt (there connection in direction Miltenberg). The buses are integrated into the Rhein-Main-Verkehrsverbund under the line number 50N.
In the street
The 
crosses Oberzent from north to south. The branches in Hetzbach 
direction Fuerth and on to the motorway 
from.
The best approach depends very much on the direction from which you are coming (here you can, for once, trust your navigation system). From the direction of Heidelberg / Mannheim the route through the Neckertal is the fastest, from the north (Frankfurt area) you should avoid Bavaria and the 
use which is much better developed (yellow autobahn) than the Hessian federal highway which mostly still leads through town centers with speed camera traps.
Important: Some formerly popular biker routes are closed to motorcyclists on the weekends. This applies to the Krähbergpass (Hetzbach-Schöllenbach) and the pass road over the Sensbacher Höhe (Beerfelden-Ober-Sensbach). Anyone who intends to travel by motorcycle should definitely take this into account when planning.
By bicycle
- The Hessian long-distance cycle route R4 leads on its stage of Maximum to Staghorn by Oberzent.
- The 3-country cycle route leads on the way of Erbach to Staghorn also by Oberzent.
mobility
Several bus routes ensure a basic offer during the week. There are generally no buses at the weekend (except for the leisure bus). Outside of school traffic, the buses usually run as a call taxi, which must be booked in advance.
- Line 50: Eberbach - Gammelsbach - Ober-Sensbach - Beerfelden - Hetzbach - Michelstadt
- Line 51: Beerfelden - Etzean
- Line 52: Beerfelden - Schöllenbach - Kailbach - Hesselbach
- Line 53: Hebstahl - Unter-Sensbach - Ober-Sensbach - Beerfelden
- Line 54: Hirschhorn - Kortelshütte - Rothenberg - Ober-Hainbrunn - Finkenbach - Hinterbach - Raubach - Falken-Gesäß - Airlenbach - Beerfelden
- Line 55: Affolterbach - Olten - Airlenbach - Beerfelden
- Line 56: Schöllenbach - Kailbach - Eberbach
Tourist Attractions
Churches
- 1 Evangelical parish church, Marketplace 1 (Beerfelden). After the great city fire of 1810, which left the whole of Beerfelden in ruins, a new parish church was built in the city center. The construction lasted four years from 1812 to 1816, the church tower was only added later in 1887. The Protestant parish church is by far the largest church building in Oberzent.
- 2 Spring church Schöllenbach, Lower Siegfriedstrasse 2 (Schöllenbach). The Protestant church in Schöllenbach is a former pilgrimage church. In the Middle Ages, the water of the nearby Itterbach was said to have a healing effect and so numerous pilgrims came here, which led to the construction of a monumental three-aisled church. After the end of the Middle Ages, the pilgrimages ended and the church fell into disrepair, so that today's simple church from the 18th century was built in its place, which is where the choir of the old church formerly stood. Some of the remains, such as the portal of the churchyard, still remind of the old church.
- 3 Catholic Church of St. Luzia and St. Odilia, Limesstrasse 12. The Catholic Church in Hesselbach dates from the 18th century. The interior of the church is particularly worth seeing, where there are some valuable relics, such as the baroque high altar or a black Madonna.
- 4 Sensbacher Höhe cemetery chapel (Between Beerfelden and Obersensbach). Built in 1619.
- 5 Leonhard's Chapel and Fountain (ruin), Leonhardshof 7 (Hawk buttocks). Former pilgrimage church.
Castles and Palaces
- 6 Krähberg hunting lodge, Krähberg 1 (Ober-Sensbach).
The Counts of Erbach-Fürstenau had a representative hunting lodge built on the summit of the 555-meter-high Krähberg, near the Reußenkreuz pass, from 1761 to 1771, which today still includes numerous ancillary and farm buildings. The hunting lodge served as the seat of the Erbach-Fürstenau family until the 1960s, when the Hessian member of the state parliament lived here Alfred zu Erbach-Fürstenau. After a long period of vacancy, the hunting lodge has been rented out since 1991 and can therefore not be viewed. - 7 Freienstein Castle, on the spur of the Weckberg (Gammelsbach).
- 8 Gammelsbach hunting lodge, Stone base 31 (Gammelsbach). The Gammelsbach hunting lodge is located on a slope above the village. This hunting lodge also goes back to the Counts of Erbach-Fürstenau, who had it built between 1767 and 1769. The Gammelsbach hunting lodge is also privately owned and can therefore not be visited.
Buildings
- 9 Himbächel Viaduct (north of Hetzbach). The Himbächel Viaduct is 250 m long, 40 m high and consists of 20 arches. Along with the Krähberg Tunnel, it is the most important structure on the Odenwald Railway between Darmstadt and Eberbach. The viaduct was built between May 1880 and November 1881 as sandstone masonry. The stones were of good quality from nearby quarries. In 1882 the first trains drove over the newly built structure. Since 2010 the viaduct has been considered historical landmark of civil engineering in Germany. It is clearly visible from the B45. You can turn off the B45 directly at the viaduct and stop your vehicle under the viaduct.
- 10 Main valley viaduct, Haintal (Kailbach). The 173 m long and 32 m high viaduct stands on the Kailbach district. It was built in 1881.
- 11 Forsthaus Eduardsthal, Eduardsthal 2. The forester's house Eduardsthal is the last remaining part of the submerged village of Galmbach. As in many areas of the Odenwald, a settlement emerged here that could not last due to the poor, low-yielding soils and therefore had to be abandoned after several bad harvests in the early 19th century. The settlement is remote in the southeastern tip of Hesse and can only be reached via a long hike. There are still some traces on site, such as the foundations of the former village.
Museums
- 12 Museum of the Oberzent (Local museum), Brunnengasse 22, 64760 Oberzent. Tel.: 49 (0)6068 7590 900. The Oberzent museum is located in Schwartz's house, a listed property from 1810. In addition to the typical exhibits of a local history museum, the former Hetzbach-Beerfelden branch line, which was shut down and dismantled in 1954, is also presented here.Open: Apr - Oct Thu 2-4 p.m., Sun 2-4.30 p.m. Guided tours by appointment.
various
- 13 Beerfeld gallows, On the gallows (Gallows on the road to Airlenbach). The eerily beautiful Beerfelder Galgen is located at the western end of the village on a hill on the country road between Beerfelden and Airlenbach. According to the plaque, this is it Three-sleeper gallows Erected around 1500, renewed in 1597 and is the best preserved of its kind in Germany. The last execution took place in 1804, a gypsy woman for stealing a chicken and 2 loaves of bread, the plaque also reports.
- 14 Mümlingquelle, below the market square (Beerfelden). 1810 as Zwölfröhrenbrunnen built, once served the drinking water supply.
- 15 Marbach reservoir (Hetzbach). The reservoir was completed in 1982, it is used for flood protection. Water surface 22 ha to max. 49 hs. There is a swimming area, surfing and sailing area, fishing.
- 16 Thick oak near Airlenbach (Airlenbach on the road to Beerfelden). The oak reached an age of 800 - 1000 years, a circumference of 8.3 m and a height of 35 m.In 2012, the oak was cut to a height of 5 m for safety reasons, the stump was preserved and covered with a protective layer Roof provided.
- 17 Schmid’s water motor (at the Hömerichsbrunnen hiking car park). Tel.: 49 (0)6275 1027. This water pump, built in 1902, used to supply the residents of Rothenberg with drinking water. It was preserved as an industrial monument and can be visited at certain times.Open: German Milling Day (Whit Monday), Open Monument Day (1st Sunday in September) or by appointment.
activities
- hike:
- Before the incorporation, each municipality led its own circular hiking trails. These still exist, but the route is only signposted on local hiking maps. For passionate hikers, buying a printed hiking map can also be worthwhile (see literature). Meanwhile, the city of Oberzent is following the general trend towards marking "quality hiking trails", which can also be used by lowland Tyroleans without hiking equipment. These hiking trails can be found on the Homepage of Oberzent.
- Several long-distance hiking trails also lead through Oberzent Odenwald clubs.
- 1 Bikepark Beerfelden, Eberbacher Weg 180, 64743 Oberzent. Tel.: 49 (0)6068 940499.
- 2 Golf- und Landclub Buchenhof Hetzbach e. V., Ritterstrasse 8, 64743 Oberzent. Tel.: 49 (0)6068 912050.
- Beerfelden ski lift, Eberbacher Weg 180, 64743 Oberzent. Tel.: 49 (0)170 2367325. See bike park for location.
- To the Swimming there are several options in Oberzent:
- 3 Waldseebad Beerfelden, Gammelsbacher Strasse 161. Tel.: (0)6068 9401775. Located south of Beerfelden on the edge of the forest. A large swimming pool with swimmers and non-swimmers as well as several leisure activities on the premises, family-friendly.Open: during the season (May to September) Mon-Fri 12: 00-19: 00, Sat and Sun 10: 00-19: 00, during the Hessian school holidays from 10 a.m.Price: adults € 2.50, children € 1.50.
- 4 Mümlingtalbad Hetzbach, Swimming pool street 22. Tel.: (0)6068 478942. Small swimming pool in the village of Hetzbach with swimmer pool, baby pool and sunbathing area.Open: during the season (May to September) Mon-Fri 12: 00-19: 00, Sat and Sun 10: 00-19: 00, during the Hessian school holidays from 10 a.m.Price: adults € 2.50, children € 1.50.
- 5 Finkenbach outdoor pool. Tel.: (0)6068 4786373. Small swimming pool with swimming pool in the heart of Finkenbach.Open: during the season (May to September) Mon-Fri 11: 00-19: 00, Sat and Sun 10: 00-19: 00, during the Hessian school holidays from 10 a.m.Price: adults € 2.50, children € 1.50.
- 6 Udder lake between Schöllenbach and Hesselbach. Since the Eutersee is fed from a mountain stream, it is pleasantly cool even on hot summer days (water temperature approx. 16 degrees). Bathing is expressly allowed in the lake, but there is no infrastructure on site so that you should or must dress appropriately at home if you intend to do a few laps in the lake. On site there is a sunbathing lawn for relaxing, a refuge and a youth tent site. There are always enough parking spaces along the access road.
shop
The range of shopping opportunities is manageable. Since livestock farming traditionally plays a major role in Oberzent, there are an above-average number of butchers with products from their own slaughter, and many farmers market their products directly from the farm (just ask). There are two supermarkets for everyday needs in Beerfelden.
A 1 Weekly market takes place every Friday from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. on the market square in Beerfelden.
- 2 Rebscher butcher's shop, Eberbacher Weg 19 (Beerfelden). Tel.: (0)6068 1303. Among other things, there is the Beerfelder Galgenstrick, a smoked sausage made according to a traditional recipe.Open: Mon-Thu 7: 30-13: 00 and 14: 00-18: 00, Fri 7: 30-18: 00, Sat 7: 30-13: 00.
kitchen
For more refreshments see accommodation.
Cafes
- 1 Café Riesinger, Hirschhorner Strasse 11. Tel.: 49 (0)6068 139.
- 2 To the golden star, Marktstrasse 5, 64760 Oberzent. Tel.: 49 (0)6068 941968.
- 3 Café Zwei Linden, Oberdorfstrasse 10 (Hesselbach). Tel.: (0)6276 318990. Open: in the season on weekends from 12 noon.
Restaurants
- 4 Restaurant Zur Bauernschänke, To the jack cross 11 (Etzean). Tel.: (0)6068 1365. Restaurant in an old farmhouse in a family atmosphere with beer garden.Open: Tue-Fri 17: 00-21: 00, Sat 15: 00-21: 00, Sun 10: 00-21: 00, closed on Mondays.
- 5 Tapas y copas, Odenwaldstrasse 3, 64760 Oberzent. Tel.: 49 (0)6068 941257.
- 6 Schmidt restaurant, Hafengasse 38. Tel.: (0)6068 4259. If you just need a lunch menu, this is the place for you, there are German dishes at unbeatable prices in the simplest alpine hut ambience. A weekly menu offers changing specialties.Open: 11: 00-13: 30 and 17: 00-20: 00, Tuesdays and Saturdays only open for lunch, closed on Sundays.
nightlife
There is no nightlife in the true sense of the word in Oberzent.
accommodation
- A 1 Motorhome parking space with four parking spaces and VE is located at the sports field in Beerfelden.
- 2 Waldgasthof Reussenkreuz, Reußenkreuz 2, 64760 Oberzent. Tel.: 49 (0)6068 2263. Country inn at the top of the Reußenkreuz pass, quietly located in the middle of the forest. The adjoining restaurant is mainly an excursion restaurant for hikers, but also offers a few main dishes. Prices including breakfast, half board and full board can be booked optionally.Feature: pension.Open: Restaurant 8: 00-22: 00, warm meals from 12: 00-14: 00 and 17: 00-21: 00, closed on Mondays and Tuesdays.Price: single / double 46 € / 88 €.
- 3 Landgasthof Raubacher Höhe, At the edge of the forest 11 (Raubach). Tel.: (0)6068 2183. Well hidden country inn on the edge of the forest in Raubach, especially interesting as a stopover for hikers. There are only double rooms, but they can also be used individually. Prices including breakfast, half board and full board can be booked optionally.Feature: pension.Open: Restaurant Sat, Sun and public holidays 12: 00-14: 30 and 17: 00-19: 30.Price: double room € 74, € 47 for single occupancy.
- 4 Pension at the forest, Am Tannenberg 1, 64760 Oberzent. Tel.: 49 (0)6068 2261. Small guesthouse on the edge of the forest in Beerfelden. There are only double rooms, but they can also be used individually. Prices include breakfast.Feature: pension.Price: double room € 100, € 60 for single occupancy.
- 5 Gasthof Pension zur Traube, Beerfelder Strasse 2 (Finkenbach). Tel.: 49 (0)6068 1460. Inn with restaurant in Finkenbach. Home-style German cuisine is served. Prices including breakfast, half board and full board can be booked optionally.Feature: pension.Price: single / double 44 € / 82 €.
- 6 Hotel Hirsch, Schulstrasse 3, 64760 Oberzent (Rothenberg). Tel.: 49 (0)6275 91300.
- 7 Hotel Gruener Baum ***, Neckartalstrasse 65, 64760 Oberzent (Gammelsbach). Tel.: 49 (0)6068 2156. Small country inn in Gammelsbach with wellness offers. The restaurant offers fine cuisine. There are only double rooms, but they can also be used individually. Prices include breakfast, half board can be booked as an option.Price: double room € 98, € 65 for single occupancy.
- 8 Hotel Gasthof Zur Krone *** S., Neckartalstrasse 34, 64760 Oberzent (Gammelsbach). Tel.: 49 (0)6068 2274. Inn with restaurant in Gammelsbach, extensive wellness offer. Home-style German cuisine is served. Prices with breakfast, half board and full board can be booked optionally.Open: Restaurant 11: 30-14: 00 and 17: 00-21: 00, closed on Mondays.Price: single / double 48 € / 86 €.
- 9 Gasthof-Pension Holzerstube, The great Rott 6 (Sensbach valley). Tel.: 49 (0)6068 2402. Feature: pension.
- 10 To the white lamb, Hochstrasse 27, 64760 Oberzent (Kortelshütte). Tel.: 49 (0)6275 9197170. Hotel with restaurant on a south-facing slope with a view of the Neckar Valley. The restaurant mainly serves game specialties. In addition to breakfast, half-board can also be booked as an option.Open: restaurant daily 4.30pm-9.30pm, no day of rest.Price: single / double € 47.50 / € 68.
- 11 Pension on the Limes path, Limesstrasse 1 (Hesselbach). Tel.: (0)6276 373. Quietly located guesthouse in Hesselbach. Prices including breakfast, self-catering apartments are also available.Price: 32 € p. P.
- 12 Landgasthof Zum Grünen Baum, Römerstrasse 1 (Hesselbach). Tel.: (0)6276 280. Country inn with restaurant and guesthouse. There are 7 double rooms, but they can also be used alone.Open: Restaurant Mon 3: 45-21: 00, Wed-Fri 11: 30-14: 00 and 15: 45-21: 00, Sat, Sun and public holidays 11: 30-21: 00.Price: double room € 92, € 51 for single occupancy.
security
There are no special safety instructions.
Oberzent is considered to be TBE risk area, Hikers should speak to their doctor about vaccination.
health
- 1 LINDA - Well pharmacy, Brunnengasse 7, 64760 Oberzent. Tel.: 49 (0)6068 2683.
- 2 Health Care Center Oberzent, Mümlingtalstrasse 58, 64760 Oberzent. Tel.: 49 (0)6068 75910 00 (Headquarters).
Practical advice
- 3 Magistrate of the city of Oberzent (Tourist information), Butcher's wedge 1. Tel.: 49 6068 7590-900.
Cell phone reception is not yet given in the whole city. In particular, the former municipality of Hesseneck is still completely unsupervised by all three German network operators.
trips
- To Heidelberg, approx. 45 km
- To Darmstadt, approx. 60 km
- Do Miltenberg, approx. 40 km
- To Bad King, approx. 25 km
literature
- Hiking and cycling map 1: 20000. Sheet 10: Oberzent. Published by the Geo-Nature Park Bergstrasse-Odenwald. ISBN 978-3-947593-05-7
Web links
- https://www.stadt-oberzent.de/ - Official website of Oberzent
