Holzminden is a small town at the river Weser in Lower Saxony. It is more than 1,000 years old and beautiful renovated buildings bear witness of this long and rich history.
You can’t leave Holzminden without visiting at least the Tilly-Haus and the Luther Church. The Tilly-Haus is the oldest house in town and it is believed that Count Tilly, the commander of the Catholic army during the Thirty Years’ War, stayed there.
The Luther Church was originally a Roman Catholic Church, probably called Maria Church, and was built in the beginning of the thirteenth century. In 1577 it was turned into a Protestant church.
If you’re not a history buff this could hardly be the reason to visit the town. No, the main reason to visit Holzminden is its tradition as scent and flavor center of Germany. The local tourist board created a tour through the city by which you learn — and smell — what the industry is about.
A trail leads you along fifteen scent stations. At each station you can smell a specific aroma that is used in the scents that are produced locally. Smell Lavender, Anise, Peppermint but also Fried Onions… When you’ve got enough of all those smells you can refresh yourself at one of the many fountains in the center of the town.
The scent and flavor industry is about 100 years old. During these 100 years the local industry has developed into one of the main producers of ingredients for scents and flavors in the world.
Holzminden is situated in the beautiful Weserbergland area and it would be a shame to miss out on the opportunity to going walking or cycling. You could make a trip to the castle of Corvey, which was founded in 815, or the castle of Bevern, a typical example of the Weserrenaissance architecture. Another worthwhile attraction is the Solling-Vogler national park about 10 km or 6 miles east of this town.
