The Odenwald is a mountain chain in southern Hessen, northern Bavaria and northern Baden-Württemberg. The name is probably derived from Odins Wald ("Odin's wood").
The Odenwald is bounded by the Neckar River in the south and the Main River in the east, while it gradually slopes away to the north and the west. The highest peak is the Katzenbuckel (literally "cat's hump", 626 m).
The Odenwald is known as a leisure destination easily accessible from the urban areas of Mannheim and Frankfurt. It is known for its clean thin air and was once known for its health sanitariums. There are many marked hiking paths through the rural areas. Wild blueberries, strawberries and mushrooms are to be found in the forests. Several small towns are particularly picturesque with Weinheim being a particularly good example. Its cobbled streets and medieval architecture with its walled old town with a “Witches Tower” and the ruined castle overlooking the town from a mountain top form an idyllic atmosphere. The region is relatively unknown to mass market tour companies. The mild climate of the area is well known and a large botanical garden surrounds Weinheim's city hall. Urban sprawl and pollution have become problems as small local service train networks have been abandoned and more people commute to the Mannheim / Frankfurt metro areas by car. The city of Weinheim has a web site [1]
