Happy TravellerWelcome to Groß-Gerau, a charming town located in the southern Frankfurt Rhein-Main Region in Hesse, Germany. This town serves as a hub for the surrounding area and is steeped in rich history. Groß-Gerau is the district seat of the Groß-Gerau district and hosted the 34th Hessentag state festival in 1994. Let’s explore this hidden gem and discover why it should be on every traveler’s bucket list.
Geography:
Groß-Gerau lies in the north of the Hessisches Ried, the northeastern section of the Rhine rift. The town borders the community of Nauheim, the town of Mörfelden-Walldorf, the community of Büttelborn, the town of Griesheim (Darmstadt-Dieburg), the community of Riedstadt, and the community of Trebur. Groß-Gerau consists of the centres of Berkach, Dornberg, Dornheim, Auf Esch, Groß-Gerau, and Wallerstädten.
History:
Groß-Gerau has great importance since Roman times. A fort in the area of the constituent community of Auf Esch ensured a bridgehead for the Roman provincial capital of Moguntiacum (Mainz), even before the Limes was established and southern Hesse became Roman. The Gerauer Mark (Gerau March, the woods between Wallerstädten and Messel) had its first documentary mention in one of Mainz Archbishop Hatto Is donation documents in 910. In the time that followed, the Lords of Dornberg, held sway in the region, likely doing so as the Hohenstaufen emperors vassals in the Frankfurt Palatinate. After the Lords of Dornberg died out came the Counts of Katzenelnbogen as their successors. The new overlords managed to procure town rights for Groß-Gerau in 1398. In the 19th century, industrialization began in Groß-Gerau, too, as elsewhere. The town became headquarters to metalworking businesses (FAGRO), canneries (Helvetia), cheesemakers (Groß-Gerau is where Mainz cheese is made) and the sugar industry.
Population:
Groß-Gerau has a population of 25,496 as of 2017.
Transport:
Groß-Gerau is very advantageously placed for transportation. It is on Federal Highways (Bundesstraßen) B42/L3482 and B44. Groß-Gerau-Dornberg station is on the Mannheim–Frankfurt railway and Groß Gerau station is on the Wiesbaden–Darmstadt–Aschaffenburg line. The north and south Autobahn interchanges on the A 67 provide connections in all directions. Frankfurt International Airport is 15 minutes away by Autobahn. Even major cities are right nearby (Darmstadt 11 km, Wiesbaden 23 km, Mainz 18 km and Frankfurt am Main 28 km).
Economy and Infrastructure:
Groß-Gerau is home to several established businesses such as Procter & Gamble, Werk Groß-Gerau (formerly Wick; personal hygiene and pharmaceuticals), Südzucker AG, Werk Groß-Gerau (closed down), Frigoropa GmbH (EK19), daughter company of Nordfrost AG (deepfreezes), Erlenbacher Backwaren GmbH, daughter company of Nestlé AG, Engel & Völkers, Claus Jousten Immobilien e.K. Franchise of Engel & Völkers Residential GmbH.
Twin towns – sister cities:
Groß-Gerau is twinned with Brignoles, France (1959), Bruneck, Italy (1959), Tielt, Belgium (1959), and Szamotuły, Poland (2000).
Join us in Groß-Gerau and experience the charm and history of this hidden gem in Germany.
