Nice to have you here...
Around 9300 inhabitants live in Alsbach-Hähnlein and enjoy the benefits of an attractive and relaxed living environment as well as the generally high level of vitality in the region.
Situated on the Bergstrasse, Alsbach-Hähnlein is literally “colorful”, and not just when the flowers bloom in spring. Good local shopping facilities, a wide range of childcare facilities, a flourishing club life and a diverse range of sports activities in the town and the immediate surroundings: it really isn't difficult to “advertise” Alsbach-Hähnlein.
Alsbach-Hähnlein not only offers a lovely environment for the people who live here. As part of the Bergstrasse tourist region, our town is also always worth a visit for outsiders. Whether activities in nature, enjoyment with a delicious local wine or insights into the cultural landscape - there is a lot on offer here.
Brief portrait
The municipality of Alsbach-Hähnlein was created in 1977 as part of the regional reform. It is the result of a merger of the once independent municipalities of Alsbach and Hähnlein.
The official population statistics showed around 9,300 inhabitants on December 31, 2022. In structural terms, the municipality of Alsbach-Hähnlein is a residential community with a slightly rural but also slightly industrial character. Tourism consists mainly of day visitors seeking relaxation in Alsbach and on the Bergstrasse.
With the development of a network of hiking trails, a mountain bike route, several barbecue areas and attractive playgrounds, Alsbach-Hähnlein has created a wide range of activities for its own residents and guests.
The Alsbach Castle and the Melibokus Tower, which is easy to reach from there, are well known beyond the town boundaries. The Alsbach-Hähnlein Museum in the Hähnlein district and the Jewish cemetery in the Alsbach district are also important. The Alsbach-Hähnlein local history museum impresses visitors with its interesting exhibits of everyday life, as well as various special exhibitions that attract visitors from the surrounding area.
The Sandwiese district, which was created between Alsbach and Hähnlein after 1945, is partly a housing estate and partly an industrial estate.
The district of Hähnlein used to be a purely rural community and developed into a working-class residential community, particularly after the Second World War. In recent years, the district has not only become younger. In many places, it also boasts an attractive appearance and modern development - whether it is the market square in the center of the village, which has been renovated after decades, or the newly built “Nördlich der Spießgasse”.
At the same time, the number of main agricultural businesses has continued to decline in recent years.
History
The first mention of Alsbach can be found in the Lorsch Codex from the year 773, where Aldolvesbach is mentioned in the description of the Mark Heppenheim. Finds testify that the Alsbach and Hähnlein district was already inhabited by people in the Neolithic period (2800-1800 BC) and in the following cultural epochs. There are more extensive finds from the time around the birth of Christ, when the Romans had pushed the borders of their empire as far as the Odenwald.
Alsbach is mentioned once again in 779 in the deed of donation of the priest Altramus in the Lorsch Codex. After that, Alsbach is not mentioned again until 1130, when Konrad von Bickenbach (the first of his family to exercise power in the local area for several centuries) is mentioned. He had his residence on the so-called Weilerhügel, in the north-western corner of the Alsbach district. Around 1240, the von Bickenbach family built Bickenbach Castle, which we know today as Alsbach Castle.
Hähnlein was first mentioned in a document in 1333 under the name “Hennechen”. In that year, part of the Tannenberg estate went to Konrad the Third of Bickenbach, who passed it on but expressly retained various possessions, including Hähnlein.
Hähnlein was formed from the amalgamation of several farms. The district names that still exist today indicate this. The core of the later village settlement of Hähnlein was formed by the “Hainer Hof”, the later rescue house and today's mayor's office. Not far from the “Hainer Hof”, a forest chapel dedicated to St. Laurentius stood on the site of today's church, which probably dates back to the 8th century AD.
The spelling of the name Hähnlein is misleading. Almost every outsider tends to attribute this name to a “cockerel”. In fact, the rooster also adorns the municipality's coat of arms. However, spellings such as “Hainlin” or “Hainlein” show that the name was derived as a diminutive of “hagen” (a wooded area), i.e. a settlement in the forest.
With the use of DeepL
This part of the website has been translated using the free version of DeepL. Please understand that we can only provide some brief information in English at this time.