I grew up in a small village in Germany called “Kitzingen”. On our Germany travels over the summer we spent a lot of time in my hometown, visiting family and friends and just enjoying the beauty that this city has to offer. It really is breath taking looking at all the pictures I took and it makes me miss home that much more.
Kitzingen is a town in the German state of Bavaria, capital of the district Kitzingen. It is part of the Franconia geographical region and has around 21,000 inhabitants. Surrounded by vineyards, Kitzingen County is the largest wine producer in Bavaria. It is said to be Franconia’s wine trade center.
The first thing we did was to find our favorite Ice ream parlor and ordered our favorite treat. Ohhh, how I missed it. It was as delicious as I had remembered and these were just a few of the 6 page menu to choose from, isn’t it amazing. It tastes even better then it looks, trust me. If you ever make it to Germany, be sure to find an Ice Cream Parlor and enjoy a treat, that’s a MUST and you will not regret it either and oh… remember on vacation calories don’t count, so eat up .
According to legend, Kitzingen was founded when the Countess of Schwanberg lost her jeweled scarf while standing on the ramparts of her castle. The castle was located high above the fertile section of the Main River Valley where Kitzingen now lies. The Countess promised to build a cloister on the spot where the scarf was found. When it was found by a shepherd named Kitz, she kept her word and built a cloister which she called Kitzingen. That Benedictine cloister, founded in the 8th century on the site of the present town of Kitzingen, defended the ford across the Main River.
Kitzingen’s history is closely tied to Würzburg. Kitzingen became a free imperial city around the year 1000. During the next century the town changed rulers often, mostly being ruled by Würzburg bishops who sold the town twice to fill their empty treasury.
In 1629 the Bishop of Würzburg took up his option to repurchase Kitzingen after the Peasants’ Revolt in 1525. He abolished Protestantism and forced more than 1,000 residents to leave the town. This blow to the town’s strength was followed by the Swedish three-year occupation during the Thirty Years’ War.
Kitzingen’s revival is credited to the wisdom of Bishop Johann Philipp von Schönborn of Würzburg, whose Edict of Toleration in 1650 encouraged the return of the expelled Protestants. This is why both Catholicism and Protestantism are present in Kitzingen today.
During the Cold War, Kitzingen was a staging area for the U.S. European Command’s (USAREUR) air defenses against possible Soviet air and nuclear attack. Two U.S. Army Bases, Larson Barracks and Harvey Barracks, were located in the town. For many years it housed the 2nd Brigade of the Third infantry division. One of these battalions, 6-41 Field Artillery, was deployed to Operation Desert Storm in 1990 and served with distinction. These units were eventually reflagged units of the First infantry division.
As you can tell our little town has and had very close ties to America, we had many many US Soldiers and Armed Forces stationed in Kitzingen and the surrounding area, making friends and hanging out with the locals, enjoying and learning about the German culture until 2007 when all the troops were relocated to America and the US bases were closed.
I just love my Hometown, it’s beautiful inside and out, has many rough years behind it but doesn’t look it and the fun part, anywhere you go, I bet you will meet someone that has been to Kitzingen before. I’m in the USA now for 15 years and have met many people, total coincidence, that were stationed in Kitzingen. It is the strangest thing but makes me always smile when people have fond memories of their Germany visit and they always love to tell their stories about the town or the fun adventures they endured.
I challenge you to find someone that has heard or even been to Kitzingen, Germany, you will be surprised how many people know this little village that has not quit 21,000 residence. Most of the military and armed forces stationed in Germany have been here. It is a beautiful place to grow up and to visit. I miss it, but I now made Florida my home. The nice thing, I can always go back and enjoy the beautiful city and look at it with different eyes then the locals would. I won’t take the city for granted, I just enjoy every second of it till I head back home.
Be sure to check out the video above (click on the picture), it’s from my Hometown’s Facebook page and it is a tour of the town under 5 minutes long but it shows the beauty even better than in my pictures. I hope you enjoyed learning about my beautiful hometown….
Have you ever been to Germany and maybe to Kitzingen?
Linda says
I am still looking for old friends for our Larson Barracks Marshall Heights days.
Looking for Ed Martin, Vince Galindo, Mike
Kwiatkowski
1974-77
Thomas Turner says
Melanie, you have a great blog, and a beautiful family. Thanks for writing about your hometown. I was in Kitzingen for 2 years while serving in the US Army stationed at Larson Barracks (1994-1996). One of the fondest memories I have of my experience in Kitzingen is of Manuela Heimueller. Up to that time she was the love of life. She was unlike any woman I had ever meet. She was kind, smart and forward thinking. She was both vulnerable and strong, and beautiful. I remember her vividly. Though I didn’t appreciate her then, I can appreciate her now. I was young and didn’t “see” the world in the same way I now “see” the world. I think about Manuela often and wonder how she’s doing. How has her life been? Does she have a family? Husband? How are they? How is her father? In all these things I hope life has been kind to her. She was special to me. I’d very much like to reunite with her and talk about old times but more importantly the new. I believe the conversation would be interesting as we both are older now and have presumably grown and become wiser, kinder, more understanding and loving people. I myself have a family complete with a cat. It would be nice to hear about her life. She and I shared many good times. If I never hear or talk to her again I wish her the best. She went into nursing from what I remember. Getting back to the town. I have found memories of Kitzingen, it’s architecture, the city itself, my long runs along the Main River and through the vineyards behind Larson Barracks. I didn’t appreciate to the fullest degree that I could have back then, but I appreciate it much more now as I look back. Those were good times in my life and thank you for transporting me back Melanie. Thomas
Melanie Roberts says
Hi Thomas, I was there the same time we left in 1997 my Ex husband was at Sig 17 at the time… I do know Manuela, don’t know how she is doing, we lost track but I think she is on Facebook. I thought I saw her there, if I do find her I will let you know. Do you know her friend Rosie? She is on Facebook for sure… How cool… it was a good ol time back then and I also think back often…. thanks for taking the time to write, I loved hearing all about it…
Thomas says
What a coincidence! Sig 17, I was in 4/3 ADA (Air Defense Artillery). I wish I knew how to find someone from Germany on Facebook. I’ve tried before without any success. Can you send me the link to Rosie’s Facebook page? I don’t remember her but like I said it’s been a looooooooog time and it’s hard to remember everyone I met.
Yes, please keep me in mind if you happen across Manuela’s info.
Sheila Nickerson says
My brother and my husband met at the Larson Barracks and became best friends. My brother met his wife there (she was from Nuremberg). They moved off base in an apartment on Mainbernheimerstr. I visited my brother there for a month and a half and met his best friend (my husband) who also lived next door to them. We married when he got out of the service. Loved the town. Walked all over the town and got lots of pictures. It was such a beautiful place . The carnival set up at the park by the river while I was there. So, so many pictures and memories. Thanks for the memory boost.
Chris Garcia says
Hi Sheila my motherowned our house on Mainbernheimer St. What year were you all thereand do you bu chance remember the house number. Who knows I may have seen you there and we may know each other. I muss my hometown but been moving back and forth with the military until 2005 when we decided to move back to GA (after my mother passed) and I retired after 34 years government service in 2008. Now we foster dogs and puppies.
Susan says
My husband and I are going to Kitzingen this summer. His grandmother is from there, but she is long since passed. Can you recommend any sights or hotels? Thanks so much.
Melanie Roberts says
There are a few Hotels in Kitzingen, all are very nice, we always opt for the Rental Home option, they are very affordable we pay around $45 a day for a family of 5, just google Ferienwohnung Kitzingen and you will get lots of options, then you can email the owner and set up everything via email. You pay when you get there in cash. You will love it, they are always so nice and some even cook for you..enjoy it.. you will love it
Susanne says
My husband Steffen Zedlitz is from Kitzingen and his family used to run the hotel near the train station. We now live in Vegas and have visited many times. We think someday we may retire there.