Bad Hersfeld, Hesse

Kurhaus, the old spa-hotel of Bad Hersfeld built in 1955
Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Hersfeld_kurhaus_2007.jpg
Author: 2micha


Bad Hersfeld is a spa town in Hersfeld-Rotenburg district, in northeastern Hesse, Germany. It covers 73.82 sq km (28.5 sq mi) and has a population of 30,000. The city is located at an average elevation of 212 m (696 ft). The city is famous for its annual festival, the Bad Hersfelder Festspiele, which has been held annually since 1951 at the ruins of its church, the biggest Romanesque church ruin in Europe.

The history of Bad Hersfeld goes back to 1142, when it was first recorded as a market center. Then in 1170 it developed into a town. By then, its most important structure was the Hersfeld Abbey, which dates back to AD 769. In its early days, the Abbey was highly influential in the running of the town, but over the centuries, its influence decline as the town itself exerted increasing autonomy.

In 1606, when the last abbot passed away, Bad Hersfeld came under the rule of the Langraviate of Hesse-Kassel. In the 18th and 19th century the town was repeatedly attacked and torched by French forces. In the attack of 1761, its church and monastery buildings were burned down. When the troops of Napoleon Bonaparte occupied Bad Hersfeld in 1807, the town was spared utter destruction by the commanding offier. The town once again escaped utter destruction during the Second World War.

Kehr'sches Domänengut, a Baroque timberframe house from 1676 in Bad Hersfeld
Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Hersfeld_kehr_marktplatz.jpg
Author: 2micha


Bad Hersfeld was known through most of its history as Hersfeld. It was only given the title Bad (meaning "bath") when it became a spa town in 1949.

Visiting Bad Hersfeld, Germany

Bad Hersfeld is located to the northeast of Frankfurt. Take Autobahn 5 from Frankfurt to reach it, continuing on Autobahn 4 at Kirchheim.

Schloss Eichhof, Bad Hersfeld
Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Hersfeld_schlosseichhof_rueck.jpg
Author: 2micha

Places of Interest in Bad Hersfeld

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