Editing Odenwald (section)

== Transport and tourism ==
The Odenwald is known as a leisure destination easily accessible from the urban areas of [[Mannheim]] and [[Frankfurt]]. It is known for its clean thin air and was once known for its health sanitariums. There are many marked hiking paths through the rural areas. Wild [[blueberry|blueberries]], [[strawberry|strawberries]] and [[mushroom]]s are to be found in the forests.

=== Roads ===
The planned extension to the ''Odenwaldautobahn'', that is, the [[Bundesautobahn 45|A&nbsp;45]] ([[Dortmund]]&ndash;[[Aschaffenburg]]), was never realized. Nevertheless, all these ''[[Bundesstraße]]n'' run through the Odenwald:
*B 27: [[Mosbach]] - [[Buchen]] - [[Tauberbischofsheim]]
*B 38: [[Reinheim]] - [[Groß-Bieberau]] - [[Brensbach]] - [[Reichelsheim (Odenwald)|Reichelsheim]] - [[Fürth (Odenwald)|Fürth]] - [[Mörlenbach]] - [[Birkenau (Odenwald)|Birkenau]] - [[Weinheim]]
*B 45: [[Groß-Umstadt]] - [[Höchst im Odenwald|Höchst]] - [[Bad König]] - [[Michelstadt]] - [[Erbach im Odenwald|Erbach]] - [[Beerfelden]] - [[Eberbach (Baden)|Eberbach]]
*B 47: [[Bensheim]] - [[Lindenfels]] - [[Reichelsheim (Odenwald)|Reichelsheim]] - [[Michelstadt]] - [[Amorbach]]
*B 426: [[Darmstadt]] - [[Mühltal]] - [[Ober-Ramstadt]] - [[Reinheim]] - [[Otzberg]] - [[Groß-Umstadt]] - [[Höchst im Odenwald|Höchst]] - [[Breuberg]] - [[Obernburg]]
*B 460: [[Heppenheim]] - [[Fürth (Odenwald)|Fürth]] - [[Mossautal]] - Hüttenthal

Furthermore, the ''Nibelungenstraße'' and the ''Siegfriedstraße'' run through the Odenwald, partly along the roads listed above.

=== Railways ===
[[File:Odenwaldbahn 08.jpg|thumb|left|The Himbächel viaduct on the [[Odenwald Railway (Hesse)|Odenwald Railway]]]]
*[[Odenwald Railway (Hesse)|Odenwald Railway]] from [[Darmstadt Central Station|Darmstadt]] or [[Hanau Central Station|Hanau]] by way of [[Groß-Umstadt Wiebelsbach station|Groß-Umstadt Wiebelsbach]] to [[Eberbach (Baden)|Eberbach]], opened in 1882, since December 2005 run with modern [[Bombardier Itino|Itino]] trains.
*[[Weschnitz Valley Railway]] from [[Weinheim (Bergstraße) station|Weinheim]] to [[Fürth, Hesse|Fürth]], opened in 1895.
*[[Überwald Railway]] from [[Mörlenbach]] by way of [[Wald-Michelbach]] to Wahlen, opened in 1901, abandoned in 1996.
*[[Hetzbach–Beerfelden railway|Hetzbach–Beerfelden line]] from Hetzbach to [[Beerfelden]], opened in 1904, abandoned in 1954.
*[[Mosbach–Mudau railway|Mosbach–Mudau line]] (locally known as the ''Entenmörder'' – “Duck Murderer”) from [[Mosbach]] to [[Mudau]], former {{convert|1000|mm|ftin|0|abbr=on}} [[narrow gauge|narrow-gauge railway]], opened in 1905, abandoned in 1973, since 1980 right-of-way has been converted into a cycling path.
*[[Neckar Valley Railway]] from [[Heidelberg Central Station|Heidelberg]] by way of [[Eberbach (Baden)|Eberbach]] and Mosbach to [[Bad Friedrichshall-Jagstfeld station|Bad Friedrichshall-Jagstfeld]], opened in 1879.
*[[Neckarelz–Osterburken railway|Neckarelz–Osterburken line]], opened in 1866 as part of the [[Odenwald Railway (Baden)|Baden Odenwaldbahn]]
*[[Madonnenland Railway]] from [[Seckach]] to [[Miltenberg]].
*[[Gersprenz Valley Railway]] from [[Reinheim railway station|Reinheim]] to [[Reichelsheim (Odenwald)|Reichelsheim]], opened in 1887 and abandoned by 1963.

=== Special day trips ===
[[File:Margarethenschlucht.jpg|thumb|upright|The Margarethenschlucht (gorge)]]
* In Hainstadt, Hesse (a constituent community of [[Breuberg]]) in the Mümling valley is a [[quarry]] which has been turned into a [[climbing]] facility by the ''Odenwälder Kletterfreunde'' ('Odenwald Climbing Friends'). There is also a climbing path secured by wire cables. The Odenwald Climbing Friends take care of the paths. The quarry also lies in the DAV's (''Deutsche Alpenverein e. V. '' – a mountain climbing club) [[Darmstadt]] Section feeder area.
*Beneath the 514 m-high Felsberg and north of [[Lautertal (Odenwald)|Lautertal]]-Reichenbach is found a ''Felsenmeer'' – literally 'cliff sea' – consisting of many weathered stones strewn about the ground which have fallen down from the cliff after having come loose from erosion. The [[Ancient Rome|Romans]] used it as a stone quarry.
* In Eberstadt, a constituent community of [[Buchen]], one of southern Germany's most important [[dripstone cave]]s was discovered in 1971. It is open to the public.
*Around the Katzenbuckel runs the ''Kristall-Lehrpfad'' ('Crystal Teaching Path'), which graphically shows the volcanic development in the Odenwald.
*From Höchst im Odenwald snakes the Obrunnschlucht (gorge) as a romantic fairytale path towards Rimhorn with many model buildings (palaces, castles and mills) along the valley.
*The Odenwald is threaded with a network of more than {{convert|10000|km|0|abbr=in}} of hiking trails.
*Because the roads have so many bends, the Odenwald is a popular outing destination for motorcyclists.
* Every year one of the greatest Halloween events in Germany is organized on the ''Frankenstein Castle'' (see above). The same name suggests a connection with [[Mary Shelley]]s famous filmed novel ''Frankenstein or The Modern Prometheus''. The horror scenery and the comedians dressed up as ghosts and witches spook the huge audience.
* Walking and climbing through the ''Margarethenschlucht'' (Neckargerach) or the ''Wolfsschlucht'' (Wolf's Glen) near ''Zwingenberg castle'' (Zwingenberg/Neckar)
* ''Zwingenberg Castle'' (see above) is the place of an annual castle festival. [[Carl Maria von Weber]]s romantic opera ''[[Der Freischütz]]'' (translated as ''The Marksman'' or ''The Freeshooter'') is performed at the entrance of the gorge ''Wolfsschlucht''. The plot is based on a German folk legend which the composer discovered in the ''[[Gespensterbuch]]'' ('Book of Ghosts') during his sojourn in Neuburg Abbey near [[Heidelberg]] in 1810. It is believed, that he also was inspired by the Wolf's Glen in a [[Neckar]] tributary valley, but there are many places in Germany with the same name. Anyway. In act 2 the protagonist Max meets the diabolic Caspar in the supernatural creepy opera scene ''Wolfsschlucht'' to become the best shooter with the assistance of magic power. Now a risky action starts.
[[File:20060408-Heppenheim Marktplatz Starkenburg.jpg|thumb|left|Every year the [[Heppenheim]]er Street Theatre ''Gassensensationen'' occupies the marketplace and other corners of the old town.]]
* For half a week early July the [[Heppenheim]]er (see above) Street theatre named ''Gassensensationen'' occupies several places und corners of the old town with presentations for children and adults. The outdoor performances include very popular loud and simple genres with music, dance, mime, circus arts and slapstick, but also sensitive theatre plays or songs in discrete spaces.
* The granite rocks of the ''Juhöhe'' near Heppenheim inspired people to imagine fairy tales. They told, that the holes were offering cups for the devil. Stones nearby got chapped, when he sharpened his claws. According to a local version of the ''Rodensteiner'' legend the [[Wild Hunt]]er crossing the ''Juhöhe'' lost his cry of hounds: They crashed and where rammed in the ground. Even today the petrified dogheads are on view at the top of the hill. So the rocks are called ''Hundsköpfe.'' ''Flat iron'' is the name of another granite formation near the ''Juhöhe.'' A long time ago Giant-ladies made use of it to set their Sunday dresses in order.
<gallery class="center">
File:Steinbruch Hainstadt.jpg|Climbing path at the [[Breuberg]]-Hainstadt [[quarry]]
File:HOHENSTEIN_Lautertal_631.JPG|''Hohenstein'' near Reichenbach (Baryte-quartz-cliff)
File:BORSTEIN_Reichenbach_622.JPG|''Borstein'' near Reichenbach (Baryte-quartz-cliff)
File:GNEIS-FELSGRUPPE Böllstein-Wallbrunn.JPG|Giant tortoise gneiss rocks (Böllstein)
File:TROMMGRANIT Salzlackenbuckel.JPG|Granite rocks (Tromm)
File:Felsenmeer Reichenbach Riesensaeule 03.jpg|''Reichenbach-Felsenmeer'': The giant column (''Riesensäule'') is a workpiece of Roman stonemasons.
File:Wildfrauhaus_Lützelbach.JPG|Granite rocks ''Wildfrauhaus'' (Fischbachtal)
File:Zwingenberg-wolfsschlucht-web.jpg|Zwingenberg (Neckar) gorge: ''Wolfsschlucht''
File:Ramberg Freischuetz wildes Heer.jpg|When Caspar und Max begin with casting the magic bullets in the ''Wolf’s Glen'' the [[Wild Hunt]] appears in the air with demoniacal noise.
File: Juhöhe Große Hundsköpfe.JPG|The rocks at the ''Juhöhe'' are  supposed to be the petrified dogheads of the ''Rodensteiner'' cry of hounds
File:Opferstein Juhöhe.JPG|It is said, that the holes of the ''Opfersteine'' were offering cups for the devil.
File: Höhnberg Bügeleisen2.JPG|People of the ''Kreiswald'' near the ''Juhöhe'' told, that a long time ago the granite formation was the flat iron of Giant-ladies
</gallery>

=== Castles ===
The Odenwald is home to many historic castles and palatial residences. In times past the fortresses on the top of the Odenwald mountains controlled Bergstraße and the Weschnitz-, the Gersprenz-, the Mümling- and the Neckar-Valley.

<gallery class="center">
File:Panorama castle frankenstein.jpg|''Frankenstein'' near [[Darmstadt]]/Upper Rhine Rift valley
File:InnerCastle.jpg|[[Frankenstein Castle]]
File:Spot Ruine Tannenberg.JPG| The ruins of ''Tannenberg'' near Seeheim ([[Seeheim-Jugenheim]])
File:Seeheim-Jugenheim-Heiligenberg-Schloss.jpg|''Heiligenberg'' Castle near Jugenheim ([[Seeheim-Jugenheim]])
File:Alsbach 2.JPG|''Alsbach'' Castle, view from ''Melibokus'' ([[Alsbach-Hähnlein]])
File:Schloss Auerbach.jpg|The ruins of ''Auerbach'' Castle near [[Bensheim]]
File:Fürstenlager Bensheim.jpg|Park and mansion ''Fürstenlager'' near Bensheim-Auerbach
File:Schoenberger Schloss 02.jpg|''Schönberg'' Castle ([[Bensheim]]-Schönberg)
File:2005-10-13 Heppenheim 2.JPG|[[Bergstraße Route|Bergstaße]]: ''Starkenburg'' (view from Maiberg, [[Heppenheim]])
File:Starkenburg Schlossberg.jpg|''Starkenburg'' with ''Schlossberg'' ([[Heppenheim]])
File:Schloss Weinheim 04.jpg|''[[Weinheim]]'' Castle
File:Burg Windeck (Weinheim).jpg|The ruins of ''Windeck'' ([[Weinheim]])
File:Wachenburg.jpg|''Wachenburg'' near [[Weinheim]] (''Two-Castles-Town'')
File:WEINHEIM_Heidelberger Granitgebiet_658.JPG|''Wachenburg'' (view from ''Hirschkopf''-tower), ''Weißer Stein (lookout tower) in the background''
File:Schriesheim Strahlenburg2.JPG| ''Strahlenburg'' near [[Schriesheim]]
File:Dossenheim_Schauenburg.jpg|The ruins of ''Schauenburg'' in [[Dossenheim]]
File:Birkenau schloss.JPG| [[Birkenau (Odenwald)|Birkenau]] Castle near Weinheim
File:BurgLindenfels.jpg|The ruins of [[Lindenfels]] Castle, ''Bürgerturm'' (tower)
File:Lindenfels_Weschnitztal_824.JPG|View from ''Weschnitztal'' to Lindenfels (left), in the background right of centre: ''Reichenberg'' Castle, left picture margin: ''Neunkircher Höhe''
File: Rodenstein_1.jpg|The ruins of ''Rodenstein'' near [[Fränkisch-Crumbach]] are the setting of a ghost story: ''Rodensteiner'' flies with a berserker-cornet in the night through the air to prophesy the start of a war (see above).
File:Reichelsheim_Schloss Reichenberg_2.jpg|''Reichenberg'' Castle, entrance, near [[Reichelsheim (Odenwald)|Reichelsheim]]
File:Gersprenztal_Böllsteiner_Odenwald.JPG|''Gersprenz''-Valley with Reichenberg
File:Schloss Lichtenberg Blick vom Bollwerk.jpg| ''Lichtenberg'' Castle (Fischbachtal)
File:Nördliche Flasergranitoidzone Reinheimer Bucht.JPG|''Neunkircher Höhe'' with a view to ''Lichtenberg'' Castle (left) and the ''Reinheimer Bucht'': ''Otzberg'' to the right of centre
File:Wilhelm Trübner - Schlosspark in Lichtenberg im Odenwald (1900).jpg|''Castle Grounds in Lichtenberg in Odenwald'', [[Wilhelm Trübner]], 1900. Colección Carmen Thyssen Bornemisza.
File:Otzberg panoramo 2.jpg|extinct volcano ''[[Otzberg]]'' and the old fort ''Veste Otzberg'' with the white tower
File:Schloss Erbach Odenwald.jpg| [[Erbach im Odenwald|Erbach]] Castle
File:Schlossfuerstenau2.jpg|''Fürstenau'' Castle (near [[Michelstadt]]) with decorative gateway arch
File:Bad Koenig Altes Schloss.jpg|Old Castle in [[Bad König]]
File:Burg Breuberg - Breuberg Odenwald.jpg|''Burg [[Breuberg]]'' near Höchst in the summer of 2006
File:Burg Breuberg05.jpg|[[Breuberg]] Castle, keep (Bergfried) and main gate
File:Wildenburg1.JPG|The ruins of ''Wildenberg'' (Kirchzell) from the High Middle Ages,  built in the Staufer era, where [[Wolfram von Eschenbach]] is said to have written parts of his [[Parzival]].
File:Wolfram47.jpg|Portrait of the medieval poet [[Wolfram von Eschenbach]] from the Codex Manesse
File:Burg Wildenberg Kamin 1.jpg|Fireplace in the great hall. In Wolframs ''Parzival'' the author indirectly compares the gigantic fireplace in the ''Grail Castle'' with that of ''Wildenberg'': “so groziu fiwer sit noch e sach niemen hie ze Wildenberc” (line 230,12-13)
File:Burg Freienstein01.jpg|The ruins of ''Freienstein'' near [[Beerfelden]]
File:Waldleiningen.jpg|''Waldleiningen'' Castle in the British-style (near Mudau)
File:Heidelberg corr.jpg|[[Heidelberg]] with [[Heidelberg Castle|Castle]] and the Old Bridge over river [[Neckar]]
File:Neckarsteinach1.JPG|[[Neckarsteinach]] with ''Mittelburg'' (left) and ''Vorderburg'' (in the middle)
File:Neckarsteinach_Vorderburg.JPG|[[Neckarsteinach]]: ''Vorderburg''
File:Neckarsteinach_Mittelburg3.JPG|[[Neckarsteinach]]: ''Mittelburg''
File:Neckarsteinach_Hinterburg1.JPG|[[Neckarsteinach]]: ''Hinterburg''
File:Schadeck-wehrgang.jpg|[[Neckarsteinach]]: The ruins of ''Schwalbennest''
File:Codex Manesse Bligger von Steinach.jpg|The medieval feudal lord and poet (minnesinger) [[Bligger von Steinach]] (Portrait from the Codex Manesse) resided in Steinach (Neckarsteinach)
File:Neckartal.jpg|[[Bergfeste Dilsberg|Dilsberg]] with mountain fort
File:Burgturm Dilsberg.jpg|Tower and wall of Dilsberg near [[Neckarsteinach]]
File:Burg Hirschhorn.jpg|Hirschhorn with Hirschhorn Castle
File:Burg-Eberbach02.jpg|The ruins of [[Eberbach (Baden)|Eberbach]] Castle
File:Burg Zwingenberg 2009.jpg|[[Zwingenberg Castle]] (also called the ''Zwingenburg'') (Zwingenberg/Neckar)
</gallery>