Hesseneck amid Hiking Trails and Odenwald History

Hiking Trails around Hesselbach

In the center of Hesselbach, a hiking information board belonging to the Bergstraße-Odenwald Geo-Nature Park stands beside the Brandweiher pond. It offers several suggestions for hikes around Hesselbach without specifying a particular route. Another hiking destination is the Three Countries Stone in the Hesselbach district. It can be reached from the village via a marked hiking trail.

The Three Countries Stone is located within the municipal district of Oberzent-Hesselbach. This is where the borders of Hesse, Bavaria, and Baden-Württemberg, as well as the three associated districts, meet. The boundary point is therefore described both by its location within the municipal district and by the marked access route from the Hesselbach district.

Roman Traces along the Odenwald Limes

In the area around Hesselbach, the Odenwald Limes ran along the ridge. Various archaeological sites and remains of the border fortification can be found there. The Hesselbach fort on the Odenwald Limes is clearly visible and signposted. The ridge is therefore characterized both by the course of the Roman border fortification and by individual archaeological sites, remains, and the fort.

The Nibelungensteig also offers a hiking experience of supraregional significance. One stage covers the route from Oberzent-Hesselbach via Amorbach to Freudenberg am Main.

The Schöllenbach Spring Church

At the Schöllenbach Spring Church, the building's history is closely connected with its special function as a spring church. The nave was demolished in the 18th century, except for the portal. In 1782, the choir was closed off; since then, it has formed the church interior.

A powerful spring emerges beneath the southern churchyard wall at the Schöllenbach Spring Church. It feeds a former washing place and flows into the Euterbach, which runs directly past it. The spring, washing place, and stream are thus arranged in direct succession at the church.

The Schöllenbach Spring Church was built under Erbach schenck Philipp IV and consecrated in 1465. As a spring church, it developed into a much-visited Marian pilgrimage site. With its consecration in 1465 and its later use as a pilgrimage site, its history extends beyond the structural alteration of 1782.

The Oberzent Museum and Rural History

The Oberzent Museum is housed in a building erected after the town fire of 1810. Because of its well-preserved original fabric, the building is a listed monument. The museum displays historical evidence of the region and its citizens. It also presents examples of rural part-time occupations and historical textile production. The historical references extend from the Roman Odenwald Limes and the spring church consecrated in 1465 to the museum building erected after 1810.

A Brief Look at Architectural Forms

In Kailbach, there is a bridge whose construction is a scaled-down copy of the Himbächel Viaduct. The smaller structure adopts the construction method of its larger model.

Other regional destinations: Sensbachtal, Mossautal, Beerfelden and Rothenberg.

For the overarching travel overview: Odenwald.