German town visited by Romsey Twinning after five-year gap

A group from the town has recently visited their twin town of Battenberg for the first time since the pandemic, thanks to the Romsey Twinning Association.

The trip took place from October 4-7, with the five-year gap between visits mainly due to the pandemic.

The group set off from Southampton Parkway Airport in the early hours and took a flight via Schipol Airport before being received at Frankfurt Airport by Battenberg’s Bürgerbus.

The visit included a range of activities (Image: NQ)

They arrived in the German town in the afternoon and were welcomed with traditional Kaffee und Kuchen (coffee and cake) by their hosts, or had the option of a leisurely walk around the town.

On Saturday, the group had a full day’s itinerary planned in the neighbouring town of Frankenberg.

The day started with an organ recital at the Liebfrauenkirche, followed by a tour led by a spirited guide who took the group to the church tower and the space between the roof and ceiling of the church.

The tour included a walk around the upper parapet of the spire, which provided some challenging narrow squeezes.

The group was fortunate to enjoy a sunny picnic on the Burgberg and later gathered at the historical Rathaus (Town Hall) for a tour of the city walls.

The tour included a visit to the Witches Tower, which offered excellent views of the town and the surrounding countryside.

The rest of the afternoon was spent with the hosts.

Some members of the Romsey group continued to explore Frankenberg, while others went to an agricultural fair at Battenfeld, where they encountered Zebe Caucasian cows.

Several members also enjoyed family celebrations, reminiscing over the years of contact with their Battenberg friends.

The evening was spent with the hosts; some families enjoyed Oktoberfest at home, while others had a meal at the Alt Battenberg Gasthof.

On Sunday, the group gathered at the newly renovated Town Hall as guests of the Bürgermeister, Mr Christian Klein.

The rest of the day was spent with the hosts, with visits to various attractions including the Edelstein Schleiferei near Bad Wildungen, Schloss Braunfels near Wetzlar, and the Botanical Gardens in Marburg.

The group concluded their visit with a final dinner on Sunday evening at the Sauerlander Hof in Hallenberg before returning to Romsey on Monday.

For further information about Romsey Twinning, visit romseytwinning.org or email romseytwinning@gmail.com.