Schmitten im Taunus


Schmitten im Taunus is a municipality in the Hochtaunuskreis in Hessen, Germany.
WWW schmitten.de

Geography

Schmitten is the highest municipality in the Taunus, approximately 24 km north of Frankfurt am Main, within which is the Großer Feldberg.
Schmitten has extensive forest areas. The municipal forest alone covers almost 13 km². There are two nature reserve areas : Saubach und Niedgesbach bei Schmitten and Reifenberger Wiesen.

Neighbouring municipalities

Schmitten borders in the north on the municipality of Weilrod and the town of Usingen, in the east on the towns of Neu-Anspach and Bad Homburg, in the south on the towns of Oberursel and Königstein, and in the west on the municipalities of Glashütten and Waldems.

Constituent municipalities

The greater municipality has nine centres named Arnoldshain, Brombach, Dorfweil, Hunoldstal, Niederreifenberg, Oberreifenberg, Schmitten, Seelenberg and Treisberg.

History

Schmitten had its first documented mention in 1399 as Waldschmidt. The name comes from a nail-making smith in the woods nearby which were attached to Hattstein Castle. The Hattstein Knights were akin to the Reifenbergers, possibly even the same. These families' origins were either in the Westerwald area north of the Lahn or the Limburg area. In the Walsdorfer Gründungsurkunde of 1156, a "Guntramus de Hazechenstein" is named.
The Hattstein Knights, whose castle was destroyed several times, had property in Bad Camberg, Usingen, Stockheim, Weilbach, Aschaffenburg, Mainaschaff, Königstein and Frankfurt am Main. The Hattsteiners also participated in the founding of Münzenberg Castle in the Wetterau.
The noble family von Hattstein was throughout the Middle Ages one of Hesse's most influential families. Baron Marquard von Hattstein was Bishop of Speyer.
Together with the Knights of Kronberg, the Hattsteiners and Reiffenbergers declared the so-called "Kronberg Feud" in 1389. When on 13 May a great force from Frankfurt swept to Kronberg Castle, Hanau and Electorate of the Palatinate troops rushed to help those being beset, driving the Frankfurt forces off on 14 May in the Battle of Eschborn and taking 620 prisoners, among them the mayor, a few noble council members and all the town's bakers, butchers, locksmiths and shoemakers. Only a ransom payment of 73,000 golden guilders ended the fight with Frankfurt and laid the groundwork for the Frankfurter Landwehr fortifications and Frankfurt's four watchtowers.
The noble family of the Hattstein Knights, which was inseparably bound with Schmitten's history, came to an end with Johann Constantin Philipp von Hattstein's death in 1767.

Arnoldshain

Saint Lawrence's Church at Arnoldshain was first mentioned early in the 13th century in the Rotulus omnium iurium. A few expansions to the once eight-sided chapel notwithstanding, the old part is preserved to this day. The Laurentiuskirche is thereby one of the oldest buildings still in use in the Hochtaunus. In a glass window from 1480 one can still clearly see the Reifenberg family's coat of arms.
Politically Arnoldshain belonged to the Lords of Hattstein, but later partly under Reifenberg rule.

Dorfweil

Dorfweil had its first documentary mention in 772. Lying 410 m above sea level in the Weil Valley, the municipality has many hiking trails. With an area of 367ha and 684 inhabitants, Dorfweil is one of Schmitten's smallest constituent municipalities.

Sightseeing

Großer Feldberg

The Taunus's highest mountain attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors every year, especially from the Frankfurt Rhein-Main Region.
In Oberreifenberg lifts for skiing and sledding are abundant. The main attraction, however, is the Taunus's nature and many kilometres of hiking trails.

Treisberg

The observation tower on the 663 m high Pferdskopf mountain near Treisberg offers a wide view of the Taunus landscape. In winter, skiers and tobogganers are drawn to skilifts.

Weiltal

Originating on Großer Feldberg mountain, the little brook Weil snakes its way through the Hochtaunus Nature Park to Weilburg. Alongside the Weil runs the Weiltalwanderweg. A Weil Valley visit is popular among families and nature lovers, but also for cyclists and motorcyclists.
Besides the yearly Weiltal-Marathon, the traditional "Rund um den Henninger-Turm" bicycle race also runs through the Weil Valley.

Limes

The Roman Empire's old border runs above Niederreifenberg and Oberreifenberg across the crest of the Taunus. Within Schmitten's municipal limits lies the Limeskastell Kleiner Feldberg, a Roman fort. The preserved foundation walls offer a glimpse into Roman history.

Reifenberg Castle ruins

The castle's keep and tower are preserved and loom over Oberreifenberg and the Weil Valley.

Politics

Municipal council

The municipal elections on 14 March 2021 yielded the following results:
Note: FWG is a citizens' coalition.

Partnerships

Schmitten maintains partnerships with the following places, all in France:

Public institutions

Educational institutions

The municipality of Schmitten has two primary schools.
  • Jürgen-Schuhmann-Schule in Arnoldshain
  • Grundschule Reifenberg in Niederreifenberg
Furthermore, there exists in Arnoldshain an Evangelical Academy called the "Martin Niemöller" Haus.

Sports and leisure

Personalities

Notable residents