Oberursel (Taunus), Germany

Welcome to Oberursel (Taunus), a charming town located in the Hochtaunuskreis county of Germany. Situated to the northwest of Frankfurt, Oberursel is part of the Frankfurt Rhein-Main urban area and is the 13th largest town in Hesse. With a rich history dating back to the 8th century, Oberursel offers visitors a glimpse into the past with its well-preserved 17th-century buildings and fascinating museums. Join us as we explore the geography, history, culture, and attractions of this hidden gem in Germany.

Geography:
Oberursel has a maximum distance of 7.2 km (4 mi) from the northern town border to the southern border and a maximum distance of 13.0 km (8 mi) from east to west. The town is located at an altitude of 138 m above sea level at Krebsmühle (Weißkirchen), 198 m above sea level at the Town Hall, and 300 m above sea level at Hohemark. The nearly Grosse Feldberg is the highest spot in the Taunus, standing at 820 m above sea level.

Neighbouring communities:
Oberursel borders Schmitten to the north, Bad Homburg vor der Höhe to the east, Frankfurt to the southeast, Steinbach to the southwest, and Kronberg to the west.

Town districts:
Oberursel is divided into the districts of Oberstedten (population 6,118), Stierstadt (5,541), Weißkirchen (Oberursel) (5,151), and the town centre (including Bommersheim).

History:
Oberursel was first mentioned as Ursella in 791 in a deed recording a donation to the monastery Lorsch. The town has a rich history, with the first church in the area, called monasterium ad ursellam, being mentioned in 880. In 1444, Oberursel was officially sanctioned as a town, and two years later, the town wall was finished. During the Thirty Years War, the town was destroyed three times, and the number of inhabitants decreased from 1,600 to 600. Today, nearly all houses in the old town of Oberursel are from the 17th century. During the Second World War, Oberursel was home to the Dulag Luft, a German POW camp system, which was later transformed into Camp King by the US Army after the occupation of Oberursel in April 1945.

Culture:
Oberursel is home to the Vortaunusmuseum, which is located in the central marketplace and illustrates the town’s history and the history of soap box derbies. Soap box derbies were invented in Oberursel, and the world championship is held in Oberursel every year. Another popular event occurring in Oberursel is the Brunnenfest, an annual village fair held in the early summer, which attracts visitors from surrounding areas and around the world.

Transport:
Oberursel is located on the A661 motorway near the Bad Homburger Kreuz, which is the interchange between the A661 and the A5 (Hannover -Frankfurt – Basel). The Frankfurt Airport is about 20 minutes away. There are 6 regional bus lines in the town, and during the weekend, there is a night bus to Frankfurt. There is a rail service via a suburban transit railway (S5) and a combined tram-subway (U3). Both lines go to Frankfurt and go underground in the centre part of Frankfurt.

Economy:
Oberursel is home to many well-known companies, predominantly in the IT and tourism industries, including Thomas Cook AG, Utimaco Safeware AG, Dimension Data Germany AG & Co, Alte Leipziger (insurance), Rolls-Royce Deutschland GmbH, AVIS, AFN (Transmitter Weisskirchen), IBM Data Center, Bommersheim, Dantotsu Intelligent Solutions GbR, and more.

Education:
Oberursel is the educational centre of Hochtaunuskreis county, with six primary schools, one in each of the town districts, a grammar school, a secondary school, a secondary modern school (junior high), and a comprehensive school. There are also two private schools, Helen-Keller-Schule and Hans-Thoma-Schule, a commercial high school named Feldbergschule, and the Frankfurt International School. The town is also home to several vocational institutions, training centres, and specialty schools.

We hope you enjoyed this brief tour of Oberursel (Taunus) and that it has inspired you to visit this charming town in Germany. With its rich history, fascinating culture, and breathtaking landscapes, Oberursel is a destination that should be on every traveler’s bucket list.