Auf Schönburg is Just the Start of Discovering Oberwesel
Like in a fairy tale, Auf Schönburg, with its battlements and towers, straddles high atop a rocky cliff and people have to cross a wooden bridge to get to the castle. In these modern days, it is a rarity; crossing the bridge is like treading into a wonderland where a prince/princess awaits at the other side for a magical happily ever after.
If you are venturing into this part of Germany, you or your kids can have the greatest time fulfilling your/their fantasy by staying in this castle… it is now a hotel. For a few days you get that chance to live like a prince/princess sleeping in bedrooms fit for a king/queen, peering through a window with a view of the vineyards or Rhine, clambering steep, winding staircases and dining/eating a lavish dinner/breakfast in candlelight or sunshiny castle garden.
While you may have your fill of excitement just staying in the castle in the duration of your holiday, it is undoubtedly as thrilling to venture out of the castle to explore the surroundings and “meet your subjects.” What attractions are there in Oberwesel? Hard as it is to believe, but there are over a hundred attractions around the area. Check them out in Zoover’s “Attractions Oberwesel” and Karen Brown’s World of Travel – List of Attractions Near Oberwesel, Rhineland, Palatinate, Germany.
Oberwesel Landmarks
The other important historical landmarks in Oberwesel are the churches and abbey ruin which point to the influence and wealth of the clergy in the past.
Churches at Oberwesel
- St. Martin’s Church: This 14th century church’s most impressive feature is its belfry like it is a part of a tower than a church. A sacral defensive construction, it served a defensive purpose during the war Weseler Krieg along with battlements and embrasures. The Baroque altar bear intricate medieval wood carvings and the walls have mural paintings. Next to it is the Medieval Sacristan’s House, a charming half-timbered dwelling.
- Wernerkapelle: It’s a small chapel that was once a part of an impressive church that was ruinied by the 17th century war. It was rebuilt in 1700. The most impressive parts are the altar and the star décor on the ceiling.
- Liebfrauenkirche: Built in 1308, it is also known as the Red Church because of its bricks. Don’t be deceived by its plain exteriors; this Gothic church is among the finest in the south and along river Rhine with its Baroque organ, high altar and choir screen.
The Medieval Townhall of Oberwesel
- The 3 km wall and 16 Wall Towers: The towers still serve to protect the old town whenever the area is flooded by the river Rhine. There used to be 21 towers. You get a great view of the town, the vineyards, and the river by strolling along Schützengraben.
- Half-timbered houses and Zum goldenen Zapfenzieher : These large, rustic half-timbered houses and “Zum goldenen Zapfenzieher” render quaint appeal to the village of Oberwesel. These houses are typical in riverfront villages in Rheinland Pfalz. The timbers were meticulously crafted with artistic designs.
- Holy Nepomuk and Holy Nikolaus: The sculptures of the holy saints were found in the ruins of the Old Townhall at each side. Holy Nepomuk faces the village and is regarded as the patron for all bridges, while Holy Nikolaus faces the river Rhine, the patron of fishermen, sailors and rafters.
- The Village Square: The Square has Renaissance edifices, cobbled stones, old-looking shops, and vines climbing the walls contributing to an archaic charm that’s Oberwesel. The town still bears reminders of its ancient history and culture; check out the Kulturhaus museum, Minorite cloister chapel and the paintings of Salvadoere Dali, a painter extraordinaire.
Oberwesel Wine Festival and Gastronomy
Middle Rhine Valley is a notable vineyard town; red wine is the toast of Oberwesel. Each year a wine festival is celebrated at Marktplatz; the Rhine River Red Wine Festival. The occasion is graced by the biggest and shiniest names in wine making and by wine enthusiasts from all over the world. The highlight of the celebration is a vintner parade of floats along equally resplendent roads and capped by a firework show – the “Rhine in Flames – Night of a Thousand Fires.”
If you came here to unwind, you’re in luck. Get off the path and get lost in Oberwesel to discover its many exciting secrets. Take Romantischer Weinlehrpfad path and walk through the village. Explore and discover shops and exhibits. Love wines? Visit vineyards and learn about wine-growing, pressing and winemaking. Head to the old Townwall and Gruenerodehaus to savor the view of the river Rhine and fill your soul. Finally, flop in a seat of an excellent restaurant; it is time to feed your body… the fun is just starting.
