GZplus0518_Gesamt_ohneRuecken_ENG

excellent food. Another address often overlooked
by visitors passing through is the
‘Galerie Angelika Gerwert’. Originally a
framing shop, alternating exhibitions of
pictures and sculptures are now held here,
and there are home accessories, jewellery
and other gift ideas as well as wine from
the region. In the gallery visitors can not
only admire and shop, they can also take a
seat amidst the art in a carefully-crafted
ambience and enjoy a coffee, homemade
cake, wine and other snacks. In summer
the garden offers romantic seating areas.
LOVE ROMANTICALLY,
LIVE LIFE TO THE FULL
The town tour continues to Oberstein. In
the old town lies the pedestrian area with
its carefully laid-out historic market place.
A holiday feeling prevails here, the view of
the rugged, grey stone walls with the
‘Felsenkirche’ church and the ruins of the
castles ‘Schloss Oberstein’ and ‘Burg Bosselstein’
is simply spectacular. Built between
1482 and 1484, the location and
visibility of the church make it a landmark
sight of the town of Idar-Oberstein. Legend
has it that in the eleventh century the
brothers Wyrich and Emich von Oberstein
lived at Burg Bosselstein. Both were in
love with Bertha von Lichtenburg. When
Wyrich learned of the engagement of his
younger brother to the object of his desire
he pushed Emich from the castle window.
Wyrich confessed the act to an abbot,
who told him to atone for his sins by building
a chapel on the site where his brother
died. When the building was completed
Wyrich asked God for a sign of forgiveness.
A spring rose up from the rocks,
which still flows to this day. At the inauguration
of the chapel Wyrich is said to have
fallen dead onto the altar. A romantic tale.
But back to the present day. “This is also
where the youngsters meet in summer,
when we head to the ‘Venezia’ ice-cream
parlour on the market place, run by a genuine
Italian,” says Anna-Lena Märker. “You
can sit outside and enjoy wonderful icecream.”
Afterwards the route leads out of Idar-
Oberstein again, to Herrstein, a jewel of the
German Gemstone Route. The medieval
timber-framed setting is perfect for the
young gemstone queen. It is the best-preserved
medieval town in the entire Nahe-
Hunsrück region. By the way, in 1798 the
legendary robber Johannes Bückler, known
as Schinderhannes, spent a night locked
up in the ‘Schinderhannesturm’ tower in
Herrstein.
This setting is also the venue for the
well-known ‘Schinderhannes-Räubermarkt’,
on the 2nd weekend in September, and the
‘Martinimarkt’ on the 1st weekend in November.
The town is also the starting point
for the 14th stage of the ‘Saar-Hunsrück-
Steig’ hiking route and the ‘Mittelalterpfad’,
a Traumschleife trail that was awarded the
distinction of being one of the most beautiful
walking trails in Germany in 2010.
So there is also a lot for young people
to do in and around Idar-Oberstein, and, as
Anna-Lena Märker points out: “It all depends
on what you make of it.”
GZ plus 05/18 023