Discover Bensheim

Bensheim combines city history and wine-making traditions with distinctive landscape attractions. In the city, highlights range from the wine festival to historic walking tours; Auerbach Castle adds a view of the surrounding landscape. The Bergstraße also offers its own regional setting.

City History and Wine-Making Traditions

The Bergstraße Wine Festival in Bensheim lasts nine days and has provided a platform for winegrowers since 1929. The permanent exhibition at the City Museum presents more than 50,000 years of history. For a tour of historic places, the city's Historic Walking Tour leads to 23 locations. These include the Market Fountain, the Red Tower, the Hohenecker Hof, the Marienhaus and the Fraa-vun-Bensem Fountain.

The Metzendorf Historic Walking Tour focuses on a different theme: its two sections lead to important buildings in Bensheim designed by country house architects Georg and Heinrich Metzendorf. If you are particularly interested in architecture, this offers a separate themed route alongside the tour of the 23 historic locations.

Auerbach Castle and Hiking

The ruins of Auerbach Castle offer sweeping views across the Rhine plain. Melibokus, a 517.4-metre-high mountain, lies directly beside the castle. A hardy pine tree has been growing on the castle's battlements for more than 300 years—a further distinctive feature of the site.

The 22-metre-high Hemsberg Tower can be climbed via a well-preserved wooden staircase when the Hemsberg Tower innkeeper has raised the flag. Take this condition into account when planning your climb. For hiking, the Burgensteig and Blütenweg offer regional routes for exploring the Bergstraße on foot. Bensheim and its surroundings also offer hiking opportunities; the two trails are separate routes.

Wine Trails and Guided Tours

The wine trail leads to the Kirchberghäuschen, a country inn among the vineyards. Along the trail, wooden signs explain different grape varieties and the work of winegrowers. The route thus combines the landscape with information about wine-growing.

For groups of six or more, Spirituosenschmiede offers tailor-made guided tours at Grieselstraße 51. Group size is important when planning a tour of this kind.

The Bergstraße as a Distinct Travel Region

In the Bergstraße district, gentle vineyards meet the Odenwald. The region's wine profile also has its own specialities: Riesling is considered the Bergstraße's signature white wine, while Pinot Noir dominates among its red wines. You can sample Red Riesling and other Bergstraße specialities from producers, in wine taverns or at wine festivals; the right opportunity depends on your travel plans.

The “Wine & Stone” experience trail is located in Heppenheim. It is about 6.9 kilometres long and has around 70 information stations. The annual autumn hike there takes place on 3 October from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Along the route, hikers can enjoy wine and food at five stops in the vineyards. Check the event details before your trip.

Another regional cultural attraction is Lorsch Abbey. It is home to one of the best-preserved Carolingian buildings north of the Alps; the abbey was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1991. Public guided tours are available for groups of two or more. Dates and prices may change, so it is advisable to check before visiting.

Discover more destinations: Auerbach, Hirschhorn on the Neckar, Rimbach, Lautertal, Bürstadt, Biblis, Viernheim, Zwingenberg.

Go to the main travel overview: Bergstraße.