Oberursel is the second largest town in the district of Hochtaunus. The metropolis of Frankfurt am Main is in the immediate vicinity to the south-east. A local phenomenon known as the "Orscheler Sonnenloch" is famously responsible for the warm weather in the town: approaching rain clouds stop over the Taunus range leaving a hole for the sun's rays to reach Oberursel.
The defining characteristic of Oberursel is its pretty half-timbered houses. One of the most enchanting is the Baroque palace on Ackergasse Street, built in 1728, which later became an inn. Today the building houses the Alt-Oberurseler Brauhaus with its own brewery. The Vortaunus Museum on the market square also occupies an impressive half-timbered building, put up in 1705, which used to be the Ratskeller pub. Its collections relate to the history, crafts and industry of the town and the Vortaunus area. There is a fascinating permanent exhibition about soapbox racing, which originated in Oberursel.
From miles away you can see the striking "Hohe Wacht" tower of the Church of St Ursula which is the emblem of the town. The church was built in the 15th century as a bold statement of self-confidence by the inhabitants of Oberursel. Many people on a mini-break or short trip to Oberursel take lovely photographs of the historic half-timbered Town Hall on the market square which was built in 1479 on the foundations of Gothic town gates. The council hall has opulent wood panelling and is frequently used for events, which are well-regarded across the country.
A good place to start for people on trips to Oberursel and the Taunus area is the Taunus Information Centre on Hohemarkstrasse Street as it has a variety of information and exhibitions about the Taunus Nature Park. They focus on subjects like the flora and fauna, topography, history and culture of the region. Make sure you go to a performance of the Theatre in the Park while you're visiting Oberursel. This is an open air theatre in the grounds of the Hohe Mark hospital to the north-west of the town centre which has weekend performances of popular classics and opera from July to August.
The Old Cemetery of Oberursel stretches from the town itself into the Bommersheim area. In the centre of the graveyard there is a Hill of Calvary dating from the 17th century. The Chapel of the Holy Cross was built in 1618 to give thanks for the end of an epidemic of plague. For a spiritual experience during your trip to Oberursel you can walk along the Kreuzallee Path with its seven Stations of the Cross of Jesus which were set up at the beginning of the 18th century.
