Felsenmeer - Sea of Granite, Lots of Fun in Germany

Located between the cities of Darmstadt and Heidelberg along Autobahn 5 by the town of Bensheim, this place is worth the visit if you enjoy nature, hiking, and history.

Legend has it: Once upon a time, there were two giants who lived on two hills. One on the Felsberg, the other on the Hohenstein. One day, they had a quarrel and began throwing boulders at each other. The Hohenstein giant had the advantage of many more stones to throw, and soon the Felsberg giant was buried in a sea of rocks. Today that spot is known as the Felsenmeer.

The Riesensäule, or Giant Column, was made by Roman masons in the 4th century. It is 30.8 feet long and weighs 27.5 tons.

Quick Tips:

Do not go there if it is raining. The rock surfaces become very slippery. There is parking at the bottom of the hill that costs 2 euros. Bring euros because there are places to get food and drink. April and May is springtime, and a lot of flowers are blooming. Also, the nearby towns are hosting festivals. September and October are wine harvesting season, which means more festivals. 'Federweiser' or 'Neuer Wein' is really sweet wine that still has the yeast in it, and it's plentiful in the area.

Best Way To Get Around:

Car rental is the ideal way to travel. Public transportation by bus is available, but it will take a very long time to get there from the cities of Darmstadt or Heidelberg.

Take highway B-47 east toward Reichenbach and Lindenfels. In Reichenbach take a left on B-47 and head north toward Beedenkirchen. On the outskirts of town there is a sign for the Felsenmeer and a large parking place. Here you are at the bottom of the Felsenmeer. -or- If you want to start at the top, go to Beedenkirchen. There take a left and head west toward Staffel and Balkhausen. On the road there are two places to park and walk about a mile apart. One is called Römersteine, and the other is Felsberg.

This place is worth the visit if you enjoy nature, hiking, and history. The Romans first used it as a granite quarry, and signs of the masons can still be seen today. Granite from that quarry has been traced to other Roman settlements, such as Trier and Mainz. Two remnants leftover from that time are Altarstein, an unfinished altar, and Riesensaule, a large pillar. Kids love to hop from boulder to boulder without touching the ground. For others who want to take it easy, paths go alongside and through the area. The hill is rather steep, and the trip is physically assertive. At the bottom and in the middle are two stands where food, drink, maps, and souvenirs are available. My wife and I spent 3 hours there, because we sat on the boulders and relaxed.

The area between Darmstadt and Heidelberg, along Autobahn 5, is full of things to do. Dotted along the landscape and nestled into the hills are castles, castle ruins, majestic churches, monasteries, vineyards, hiking trails, and plenty of sights to stop and enjoy nature. Located south of Bensheim is a small airstrip that launches gliders. For a small price, you can ride back seat as you soar above the landscape. In the springtime, the flowers are in bloom and the towns have festivals with rides, food, and local beers and wines.

The summer has less rain and is ideal, if not close to perfect, for hiking the many trails that crisscross in the Odenwald. Autumn brings more festivals to attend, and the wine harvests begin. A classic drink called Federweiser, or Neuer Wein, is wine in its beginning state. It is as sweet as grape juice, contains alcohol, and still has the yeast in it. It must be tried.

In winter, the fun doesn't stop. The hiking trails are covered in snow, and cross-country skiing becomes the rave. Special machines are driven around to create special trails to ski on.