Zwingenberg
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Zwingenberg is the oldest city in the Bergstrasse district of Germany, south of Frankfurt and Darmstadt.
With a population of 7,100 inhabitants, the town has the legal right to have a marketplace and hold markets. Zwingenberg's earliest documentation dates from 1012 with a reference to the Getwinc area. A city wall is mentioned in 1258 and Zwingenberg was chartered in 1274.
Local landmarks include the white Bergkirche mountain church, Alsbach castle, Auerbach castle (Schloß Auerbach) and Melibokus mountain (515 meters). The city wall still stands along with the Schlösschen town hall and the Altes Amtsgericht courthouse. A view of the market square and Bergkirche is often used for postcards. There are two wine growing areas nearby, the Zwingenberger Alte Burg (old Castle) and Zwingenberger Steingeröll (stone gravel). White grape varieties grown there include Sylvaner, Riesling, Müller-Thurgau and Morio Muscat. Zwingenberg is part of a larger wine growing area called Hessische Bergstrasse which is known for herb wines.
