seat of Main-Kinzig-Kreis and town in Hesse, Germany
Gelnhausen is a town in Hesse, one of the states of the Federal Republic of Germany.
Understand
editGelnhausen has about 24,000 inhabitants (2023). It's 50 km east of Frankfurt and about 50 km west of Fulda.
Get in
editBy train
edit- 1 Bahnhof Gelnhausen. There is a train service from Frankfurt (30 minutes) every hour.
By motorcar
editConnection to Autobahn A66.
Get around
editSee
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
editEat
editGelnhausen 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
editAs 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.