Gelnhausen is a town in Hesse, one of the states of the Federal Republic of Germany.
Understand
[edit]Gelnhausen has about 24,000 inhabitants (2023). It's 50 km east of Frankfurt and about 50 km west of Fulda.
Get in
[edit]By train
[edit]- 1 Bahnhof Gelnhausen. There is a train service from Frankfurt (30 minutes) every hour.
By motorcar
[edit]Connection to Autobahn A66.
Get around
[edit]
Map of Gelnhausen
See
[edit]- 1 Kaiserpfalz Gelnhausen (Barbarossaburg), Burgstraße 14. It was founded in 1170 by Frederick Barbarossa (Frederick I, Holy Roman Emperor).
- Museum Gelnhausen, Obermarkt (behind Obermarkt 24). Entertaining museum with many interesting exhibits, including a gigantic human ear that kids can climb into (reservation required), as well as on historic figures such as Emperor Frederick Barbarossa.
- Romanisches Haus.
- Hexenturm. A 15th-century tower.
- 2 Marienkirche. A 12th-century church and landmark.
Do
[edit]- 1 Barbarossafreibad, Barbarossastraße 44-46, ☏ +49 6051 2401. May-Sep: daily 08:00-20:00. An open-air swimming pool. Adult €4, child €2.50.
- 2 Hallenbad Gelnhausen, Am Hallenbad 1, ☏ +49 6051 17070. Tu 07:00-18:00, W-F 07:00-22:00, Sa 13:00-19:00, Su 09:00-16:00. Adult €3.90, child €1.90.
Events
[edit]- There is an annual festival called the "Schelmenmarkt" (Scoundrels' Market). It features some rides such as a roller coaster and two or three carousels. This is probably a good occasion to get to see the town at its best.
- Kinzigtal total. An "everyone can participate" cycling event.
Buy
[edit]Eat
[edit]Gelnhausen has a surprisingly wide range of restaurants.
- Sardina. A good place for pasta, pizza, etc.
- 1 Blockhaus, Auf der Dürich 1, ☏ +49 6051 3921. M Sa 12:00-21:00, Su 10:00-21:00. It offers classic Hessian specialties and cheap but very good apple wine. It is an excursion restaurant in a beautiful location on the edge of the forest.
Drink
[edit]As in most towns around Frankfurt you will have no difficulties finding the famous Ebbelwei (apple wine).
- Café Art. One of the best pubs in Obermarkt, a 'square' that is anything but square, has cobbles all over it, and is flanked by the region's distinctive, red-sandstone buildings. The beer to go for is Jever Pils, draught. Buy it in small measures the way the locals do.
Sleep
[edit]- Altstadthotel Gelnhausen, Untermarkt 17, ☏ +49 6051 97798-0.
- Grimmelshausen-Hotel, Schmidtgasse, ☏ +49 6051-92420.
- Burgmühle, ☏ +49 6051-82050.
Go next
[edit]- Bad Orb, spa town, 15 km to the east (20 minutes by bus)
- Hanau, birth place of the Brothers Grimm, 25 km to the southwest (15–20 minutes by train)