Tauberbischofsheim, Romantic Road

Anyone for fencing? The fencing club in Tauberbischofsheim is one of the most successful in the world and regularly earns podium placers in international competitions. Founded in 1954 as a fencing division of TSV 1863 Tauberbischofsheim e.V. (a sports association), by 1967 the fencing division left to establish its own club and training camp. As of 2016, the team has won 380+ medals in the Olympics, World Championships and European Championships. At the German National Championships, the team accumulated a staggering 655 medals.

Tauberbischofsheim is located in the state of Baden-Württemberg on the Tauber River and is the capital of the Main-Tauber district. Based on prehistoric finds, the area was settled around 3,000BC. However, the first mention of the town was in 836AD, when it was known as Bischofsheim (Bishop’s Place). Since other towns carried the same name in 1850, Tauber (the name of the river) was added to give it its current name.

Landmark buildings such as the Chapel of St. Peter, Kurmainz Castle and Türmersturm Tower were built in the 12th and 13th centuries, and at one time the entire town was surrounded by a defensive wall. Half-timbered houses and the Gothic revival town hall encircle the central plaza (Marktplatz).

For beer enthusiasts, the nearby suburb of Distelhausen is home to the family-owned Distelhäuser brewery, specialising in Pils, wheat beer, fruit brandies, regional cider, and apple juice.

Baden cuisine, with its bohemian style, draws on influences from Alsace, France, and Switzerland, such as Baeckeoffe (a meat-and-potato casserole) and Sauerkraut (fermented raw cabbage with a sour flavour). For the sweet tooth, there’s always Kirschenmichel (kind of a bread pudding) or the widely known Black Forest Cake.