Witzenhausen
 

I will be in Witzenhausen (in the northern part of Hesse) in a little over two weeks for a meeting. Can anyone give me any details about the town and the area immediately surrounding the town. I will probably spend some time in Kassel and/or Göttingen, but I am also looking for things nearer to Witzenhausen as well. Restaurant details would also be appreciated.

Thanks!

Hi, I can't help with Witzenhausen but Cowboy comes from Hannoversch Münden so he will definitely be able to help you out. But I do know that area a little - near you, Hann. Münden, Duderstadt, Bad Hersfeld and Alsfeld are all pretty. Near Kassel there is also a fantastic hotel called Burg Trendelburg. I went there 20 years ago for a grand dinner. I would love to see it nowadays - 20 years is a lot of water under the bridge. And Göttingen is also nice, Kassel not so much, but Kassel has Documenta and the Wilhelmshöhe, which is a Baroque park with a fantastic art gallery, the Schloss Wilhelmshöhe.

In Göttingen there is a long standing restaurant with stick-to-your-ribs food called the Nudelhaus. They have enormous schnitzels there, and being a student town the prices are very reasonable. There is also a café with amazing cakes in the window, Cron & Lanz, which is an old establishment. That is just in the main pedestrian street, you couldn't miss it. I'd recommend both those experiences.

Please write back, I would love to hear how you found the area.

Lavandula

Witzenhausen is known for its cherries and cherry festival, but it is in July, so you'll miss it. You can bike or hike through the cherry trees on the "cherry route."

The old town has some wonderful half timber buildings and the castle was a training center for Hitler youth. It now houses the organization's archives.

Sorry, I don't have any good info on restaurants.

If you like half timbers, Alsfeld is worth a visit, as is Eschwege.

Actually, I come from a bit further downstream river Weser than Hann. Münden, but lavandula sure is spot on with every suggestion. As is wanderfrau.

Hann. Münden should be on your list - and it's really close to Witzenhausen.
In addition to Trendelburg, you could also check out Sababurg (the Dornröschen or Sleeping Beauty castle).

If you like half-timber towns, Melsungen is usually a bit overlooked (though as pretty as the rest), and also very nearby.

Arolsen is a cute baroque town a bit West of Kassel.

Aside from Kassel (for the museums and Wilhelmshöhe park) and Göttingen, there is also Eisenach with Wartburg castle and Mühlhausen not too far from Witzenhausen in neighboring Thuringia.

But if Kassel and Göttingen are as far as you want to go, only Hann. Münden (and driving up B80 which follows the river valley), Duderstadt and Melsungen fit that requirement.

I think that Hann. Münden and Eisenach will be given priority on the list of the places I will check out. Of course it remains to be seen of exactly how much spare time I will have.

Thank you to all of you for the information. It seems that the same people are always the ones responding to my questions and I truly appreciate the advice!

Lavandula, as I usually do I will be writing about my travels and posting here.

One thing that will be different about this trip is that I will not be travelling with my family. They will be staying home and I will travel with a friend who has never been to Europe. I am excited to share some of my favorite places down on the Middle Rheine and the Mosel, but I think that I will be missing my normal travelling companions quite a lot as well.