Bensheim

Bensheim is a town in the Bergstraße district in southern Hessen, Germany. It is located on the Bergstraße and near the edge of the Odenwald mountains, with a nice view over the Rhine plain. As of 2016, Bensheim had around 40,000 people living there, making it the largest town in its district. The town has a rich history and offers various attractions for visitors to explore.

Geography

Location

Bensheim is a town found at the eastern edge of the Rhine rift. It sits on the slopes of the western Odenwald along the Bergstraße. Nearby big cities include Darmstadt, which is about 22 kilometers north, Heidelberg around 35 kilometers south, Worms roughly 18 kilometers west, and Mannheim about 32 kilometers southwest. The district town of Heppenheim is only about 5 kilometers south.

The Lauter river flows through Bensheim, and after passing through the town, it is called the Winkelbach. In the south part of town, the Meerbach river also runs, coming from the Odenwald. There is also a smaller waterway called the Neuer Graben, or “New Channel,” which mostly runs underground but appears above ground near the western edge of town.

Neighbouring communities

Bensheim shares borders with several nearby places. To the north, it borders the town of Zwingenberg and the communities of Alsbach-Hähnlein and Seeheim-Jugenheim in the area of Darmstadt-Dieburg. To the east, it borders the community of Lautertal. In the south, it borders the town of Heppenheim, and to the west, it borders the town of Lorsch and the community of Einhausen.

Constituent communities

Bensheim has several parts. The main part of town is east of the railway line and includes both older areas and newer developments such as Brunnenweg, Metzendorf, Griesel, Meerbach, and Hemsberg. West of the railway line is an area called Weststadt (“West Town”), with places like Port Arthur, Marokko, Leibweh, and Kappesgärten. There is also a separate area called Auerbach north of the main town along the Bergstraße. Other smaller areas such as Hochstädten, Schönberg, Wilmshausen, Gronau, and Zell are located in the valleys of the nearby Odenwald. Additionally, places like Langwaden, Fehlheim, and Schwanheim are found in an area known as the Hessisches Ried, part of the Rhine rift in Hesse.

Climate

Bensheim enjoys a mild and sunny climate, with about 2,000 hours of sunshine each year. It is one of the earliest places in Germany where spring begins. Because of this warm climate, special fruits like kiwifruit, almonds, figs, and peaches grow well here, earning the Bergstraße the nickname “Germany’s Riviera.” The town even has an annual event with a Blütenkönigin (“Blossom Queen”), chosen each year to celebrate this special climate.

History

Bensheim started as a small village in the 8th century and became a town in the 14th century. Over the years, it has seen many changes and events.

In the past, people have lived in the area since very old times, with discoveries from around 2500 to 1500 BC.

The town's name changed many times before it became Bensheim. It received special rights to have markets early on. Sadly, parts of the town were destroyed during battles in the past.

Later, Bensheim was influenced by different rulers and had times of growth and difficulty. In more recent history, the town has continued to grow and change, becoming an important place in the region today.

Politics

The town of Bensheim holds elections to choose its leaders. In March 2021, people voted for their town council. The town executive group includes nine councillors and a mayor named Christine Klein. Nicole Rauber-Jung is a full-time councillor, and other seats are shared among different groups.

Bensheim has had many mayors over the years. The town began letting citizens choose their mayor in 1821. Some of the mayors include Philipp Meißel, who served from 1822 to 1825, and the current mayor, Christine Klein, from the SPD, who has been in office since 2020.

Bensheim’s town symbol shows a knight on a horse fighting a dragon. The red background comes from the old owners of the town, the Bishopric of Mainz. The knight represents Saint George, who was thought to be the town's special protector in the past.

Bensheim also has friendships with towns in other countries. These include Beaune in France since 1960, Amersham in the United Kingdom since 1977, Mohács in Hungary since 1987, Riva del Garda in Italy since 1989, Kłodzko in Poland since 1996, and Hostinné in the Czech Republic since 2002.

Town council

The municipal election held on 24 March 2021 yielded the following results:

Coat of arms

The town's arms might be described thus: Gules a knight with kontos, held in both hands, and armour Or astride a steed salient argent, the whole sinister, below which a dragon statant reguardant sinister vert, the knight's kontos thrust through it.

The German blazon says that the kontos, or lance, is golden, and that the dragon is green, although the achievement shown here, whose source is the town administration itself, shows different tinctures for these two charges.

The red field refers to the Mainz coat of arms, as the town was owned by the Bishopric of Mainz until 1802. The knight slaying the dragon represents Saint George, who was said in earlier times to have been Bensheim's patron saint.

Town partnerships

• Beaune, Côte-d'Or, France, since 1960
• Amersham, Buckinghamshire, United Kingdom, since 1977
• Mohács, Baranya County, Hungary, since 1987
• Riva del Garda, Trentino, Italy, since 1989
• Kłodzko, Lower Silesia, Poland, since 1996
• Hostinné, Hradec Králové Region, Czech Republic, since 2002

Moreover, some outlying centres have their own separate partnerships.

Sponsorship

On 29 April 1956, a Patenschaft (roughly, “sponsorship”) was set up for Sudeten Germans driven out of the town of Arnau (now Hostinné in the Czech Republic) on the Elbe in the Hohenelbe district.

Culture and sightseeing

Theatre

The Parktheater was built in 1968 and offers many cultural activities. Besides shows put on by the town, other groups also perform plays, musicals, and dance shows. In 1998 to 1999, the Parktheater was completely updated.

Bensheim also has other theaters such as the PiPaPo Theater, the Vornerum Theater, the Varieté Pegasus, and the Autorenkollektiv Laufkundschaft.

Museums

Besides the town's own museum, there is an old synagogue in Auerbach that now serves as a museum.

Music

The Bensheim Music School began in 1979. Students from the school often win prizes in state and national contests. Many groups help create a friendly community spirit at the music school.

Buildings (secular)

Bensheim and its surrounding areas have 557 important cultural buildings. Some of the most famous ones include:

• Alte Faktorei, an old factory building
• Alte Gerberei (Old Tannery), built in 1873
• Bismarckturm (tower), built in 1902
• Dalberger Hof, an old noble estate
• “Luginsland” on the Höhenweg above Baßmannpark, built in 1910
• Hohenecker Hof, an old noble estate from 1756
• Kirchberghäuschen, built in 1849
• Metzendorf-Villen (villas)
• Rinnentorturm (tower), from the 1300s or 1400s
• Rodensteiner Hof, a grand home with a park
• Roter Turm, an old watchtower from the town's wall, from the 1300s
• Walderdorffer Hof, the oldest timber-frame house in southern Hesse, built in 1395
• Wambolter Hof, an old noble estate from around 1732/33

The Landgraves of Hesse once used the Fürstenlager near Bensheim-Auerbach as a peaceful retreat. It is a group of simple buildings arranged around a well in a beautiful park.

Buildings (ecclesiastical)

Some important churches in Bensheim include:

• Saint George's Parish Church, built in 1830
• Saint Joseph's Hospital Church, from the 1300s
• Saint Crescentius's Graveyard Church, built in 1618
• Saint Michael's Church, built in 1863
• Saint Lawrence's Catholic Parish Church, built in 1965

All of these churches are Catholic except Saint Michael's, which is Evangelical.

All 557 cultural monuments are listed in the Liste der Kulturdenkmäler in Bensheim.

Sport

The HSG Bensheim/Auerbach women's handball team is well-known nationwide and plays in the 1. Handball-Bundesliga.

Bensheim and its surrounding areas are home to many other sports clubs.

Denominational Institute

Since 1947, Bensheim has been home to a big institute for learning about different religions in Europe. This special place was first located in a building called Wolfgang-Sucker-Haus until 1967, and then returned there in November 2007.

Bensheim offers many things for children up to age 14, like a new youth center that opened on January 26, 2006. This center gives kids plenty of ways to have fun. There used to be a bigger youth center on Wilhelmstraße, but it closed down. Work has started on a new skate and BMX park, planned and supported by the young people themselves.

There are places where young people can meet and enjoy music, such as Bandsheim, which hosts concerts for new bands. Another spot called Party-Bensheim is where young people can meet, talk, and plan things together. Both of these places were started by young people.

Some young people feel they don’t have enough free things to do, so they have been working hard to create their own youth center where they can make their own rules. Groups like SKJuz and BürgerMaiStar have been trying to make this happen. In 2010, about 50 young people tried to take over an old army building to make their own center, but the police stopped them a few hours later.

Even with these challenges, a group called JUKUZ Bensheim is still working to make a youth center where young people can run things themselves.

Regular events

Bensheim holds a famous festival called the Bergstraße Vintners’ Festival every first week in September. It starts on a Saturday and lasts nine days. There is a big parade on the first Sunday, and fireworks on the second Saturday.

Another festival, the Citizens’ Festival, began in 1975 when a new walking area opened, and it is held every early summer since 1977. There is also the Auerbach Brook Lane Festival, an outdoor food event started in 1987.

Since 2003, Bensheim has celebrated the Maiway, a food festival where many pubs have live music.

Culinary specialities

Bensheim is known for a special onion cake called Zwiewwelkuche à la Fraa vun Bensem. This dish has a long history in the town.

Economy and infrastructure

Bensheim is part of the strong economic area called the Rhine Neckar Area. The town has good jobs and many people with education living there.

Some big companies have their main offices in Bensheim. These include Sirona Dental Systems GmbH, which makes tools for dentists, and Kern GmbH, which makes special equipment for banks and technology companies. Other companies include Cegedim Deutschland GmbH for medicine, Tyco Electronics AMP GmbH for electronics, and SAP AG for computer services.

Bensheim is easy to reach by road, with highways B 3 and B 47 nearby, and Autobahn A 5 close by. The town has a train station connected to big cities like Frankfurt am Main and Heidelberg. There is also an airport not far away in Frankfurt.

The town has many schools, including five special high schools called Gymnasien, as well as primary schools and schools for adults. There are also places to help people learn and get support.

Notable people

• Sir William Curtius (1599–1678), the first Curtius Baronet of Sweden, a scientist and diplomat.
• Friedrich von Eichheimer (1764–1854), a doctor in the Bavarian army who became a top surgeon.
• Elsa Fraenkel (1892–1975), an artist who made sculptures.
• Heike B. Görtemaker (born 1964), a person who studies history.
• Paul Kleinschmidt (1883–1949), an artist known for his paintings.
• Josefine Koebe (born 1988), a politician and expert in economics.
• Matthias Lorenz (born 1964), a musician who plays the cello.
• Michael Meister (born 1961), a member of the German parliament.
• Norbert Müller-Everling (born 1953), an artist who creates sculptures.
• Arthur von Oettingen (1836–1920), a scientist from Germany who also wrote about music.
• Wilhelm Ringelband (1921–1981), a writer about theater.
• Bernhard Trares (born 1965), a soccer player and coach.
• Heinrich Werlé (1887–1955), a leader of choirs and a writer about music.
• Otto-Werner Mueller (born 1926), a conductor and teacher of music.

Twin towns – sister cities

See also: List of twin towns and sister cities in Germany

Bensheim has friendly partnerships with towns in several countries. These include:

• [Amersham], England, United Kingdom
• [Beaune], France
• [Hostinné], Czech Republic
• [Kłodzko], Poland
• [Mohács], Hungary
• [Riva del Garda], Italy