The mighty St. Catherine's Church, a deep labyrinth of cellars and pretty old town alleyways: There are many reasons to pay Oppenheim a visit. The small town on the Rhine is now celebrating its anniversary "1225 to 2025 - 800 years of town rights" with a multifaceted calendar of events. Throughout the year, this will bring together new guided tours, exhibitions and events relating to wine and culture. At the same time, the festive program also revives traditions and tried-and-tested offers. This creates many more reasons to add Oppenheim to your travel or excursion itinerary. Our author Marina Noble, who lives in the historic old town herself, takes a stroll through the town to show where history is alive and presents the festival program.
Historic and colorful: a walk through the old town
Let's start at the market square, which is lined with pretty half-timbered houses: here at the heart of the town, things are usually colorful and cheerful. Especially at weekends, hikers and cyclists resting on the Rhine Terraces Trail or one of the cycle routes. Other visitors and locals also enjoy a glass of wine. This is available at the Rathaus-Ausschank, which is run by local winegrowers on a rotating basis, or from the surrounding restaurateurs. Others enjoy an ice cream or fortify themselves with Rhine-Hessian, Italian or Indian specialties.
At the same time, the historic houses, churches and alleyways of the old town exude historical charm - history is in the air. Much of what you can discover today is connected to the anniversary that Oppenheim is celebrating. So let's take a brief trip back 800 years: in 1225, Emperor Frederick II granted the town charter to the town, which was located on important trade routes. This brought important rights and freedoms for the then "Free Imperial City of Oppenheim": a city wall, holding a market and minting coins. This set the course for the town's development and has left its mark.
The town hall housed the mint in the 13th century. Incidentally, the money minted here was only valid in Oppenheim. But it contributed to the town's prosperity. Just like today on Saturday mornings, traders came to the central "marketplace" with their goods. A piece of metal on the right-hand corner of the town hall is a reminder of this: the Oppenheim yardstick, which was used to measure fabrics. Every town had its own measure back then. The cubit in Oppenheim is 62 centimetres long, more than today's 50 centimetres of this unit of measurement. We have always been generous, smile the locals.
Skull splitter underground - from youngster to old man at St. Catherine's Church
The so-called "Stapelrecht" (stacking law) obliged merchants to sell their goods in the city for at least one day. So they needed storage space in cellars - one of the cornerstones of what is probably the most important sight in the city: today, an extensive underground labyrinth stretches beneath the entire old town, up to five storeys deep. Around 650 cellars have been opened up and more are still being discovered. Several times a day there are exciting guided tours into the "city beneath the city" to the "Cemetery of the Chamber Pots" or the "Skull Splitter". You can get tickets at the tourist information office or online. You will pass the entrances on your way to St. Catherine's Church.
St. Catherine's Church, the most important Gothic sacred building between Strasbourg Minster and Cologne Cathedral, is also owed to the city charter. The townspeople wanted to express their self-confidence with this mighty church, which could be seen from afar. The monument, which is characterized by various stylistic periods - from Romanesque to late Gothic - is therefore also celebrating its 800th anniversary this year with church services and concerts. Look up on the south side: can you see the heads representing the ageing of a man from youth to old age? And above them, roses developing from bud to blossom?
You should also go inside the church. The interior is amazingly bright. This effect is created by the ornate windows. The Oppenheim Rose is particularly famous. This filigree window shows the coat of arms of the free imperial city of Oppenheim and the council families of the time in the outline of a hedge rose and in the strong colors of the Gothic period (gold, red, blue). Alongside the symbols of the nobility are those of the burghers - not a matter of course at the time.
Argumentative citizens and panoramic views from the Landskron
The citizens also fought for their rights in the city administration by repeatedly storming the ruins of Landskron Castle, a short distance above the city. This former imperial castle would probably not have been built without the town charter, as it also served to protect the merchants. Today you should not miss the short hike to the top - a wonderful panoramic view rewards you for the climb.
The stone city wall also had a protective function. Some of the original 16 towers and nine gates are still preserved today. The square Gautor gate, which leads to the "Gau", the Rhine-Hessian hinterland, is striking. It was once used as a prison, among other things, and was then little used for a long time. For the town's anniversary, the Gautor is being given a new lease of life as a venue for exhibitions and events.
Yesterday, today, tomorrow: a festive calendar full of discoveries, stories and encounters
Speaking of events - there is a wide range of them to mark the town's anniversary: "With a rich offering, we are making yesterday tangible and at the same time looking to today and tomorrow. For visitors and locals alike, we are creating a year full of discoveries, stories and encounters," says Stephan Arnold, the first deputy of the town of Oppenheim also responsible for culture and tourism, summing up the objectives. The focus is often on personal stories and anecdotes. It should be playful and have the character of an event. To this end, the city has also brought its associations, winegrowers, institutions such as the VHS and the twin towns on board. The numerous special events and guided tours are summarized in the Program flyer together. In addition, all information about on the website of the city retrievable
Some highlights:
- Costume tour: "Time travel" through the history of Oppenheim": This journey from the present day back to the year the town was founded is more of a spectacle than a guided tour. Historical figures accompany you to various stations in the old town. They talk about their lives and their times. Dates: Sat July 5, Sat August 2, Sat September 6. The new offer complements the beguine and night watchman costume tours.
- City tour: Discover Oppenheim and the surrounding area by e-bikeThe two-hour guided tour starts at the market square with your own e-bike. It also leads into the vineyards and to sights outside the town, such as the famous Toad Fountain. Various dates from June.
- Literary-musical stroll with the Trio Spätlese through the alleyways of the old town. There will be readings and musical performances at various stations. The performers went on a special search for old Oppenheim songs. Dates: Sun June 29, Sun July 6
- Grand parade: At the opening of the popular wine festival around the market square (August 8 to 11), the anniversary revives the lost tradition of the parade. In addition to various clubs, flag-wavers and coopers are also expected to take part.
- Exhibition "Oppenheim through the ages" at the Gautor: This provides insights into the urban development of yesterday, today and tomorrow (from November). Further exhibitions and events are to follow in the historic city tower.
Some of the other offers that complement Oppenheim's established cultural events, markets and festivals: The church tour "800 years of St. Katharinen Oppenheim"; the event with electronic music "Rotes Rauschen" in the Landskron castle ruins; indulgence culture: wine tasting in the wine museum; anniversary wine tasting in the German Wine Museum with explanations and tastings of old vineyards; a poetry slam in which artists compete for the audience's favor with their poems; as well as theater performances by the AHA Theatre with episodes on the history of Oppenheim created especially for the anniversary.
Anniversary treat to take away: Wine edition with artist labels
To mark the anniversary, the Oppenheim winegrowers are bringing out an anniversary wine edition. Tied up as two wine packages of three bottles each of white or red wines, the good tropical wines will be served at events or can be purchased at the tourist information office (from the wine festival onwards). The special anniversary labels are designed by artists from Rheinhessen.
History to leaf through: New city chronicle
In this 300-page book, geologists, archaeologists, art and church historians and building researchers shed new light on the history of Oppenheim. Their texts are supplemented by numerous illustrations and photos. The chronicle published by the Historical Society is available from Oppenheim bookshops
