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The regions, towns and places. Their highlights, stories, traditions, customs and festivals

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Hof:

Local spelling:


Hof

The city at the top of Bavaria

During the Cold War Hof was a valuable strategic location for the US Forces, with it’s close proximity to the former East Germany, what was then Czechoslovakia and the Iron Curtain.

The two notable churches are the Marienkirche, finished in 1864 and the Lorenzkirche , with it’s origin going back to the 11th century. A devastating fire in 1823 destroyed or damaged most of the town. This is why many of the rebuilt buildings show the influence of the more “modern” times in their architecture.

Shortly before the reunification of Germany the city was “invaded” on weekends by hordes of East German citizens. They were allowed across the border on weekends and shopped till the store shelves were empty with the stipends they received from the West German government . For more information about this small regional “Metropolis” see the links above.


We always enjoyed strolling through the pedestrian zone at the Lorenz Church, stopping in at the fish market for a Bismarckhering on a hard roll and also a pair of hot dogs on a bun with mustard from the hot dog street vendor unique to Hof called the “Waerschtlamo”.

These vendors belong to a guild which only exists here and a pair of their “Waerschtla” or Wieners is a must have when visiting! They actually have a festival in the middle of June.

History

External link(s) to:

Wikipedia

Museums and Permanent Exhibits

Link to city web site

Extensive site in English

Event:

Hofer Wärschtla Maradon

English:

Hot Dog eating Marathon

Date:

Saturday the day before the Schlappentag

Description:

This is a day when you go from one Hot Dog vendor to another and consume as many Wieners as possible or your wallet allows.

Classification:

Fun and Gemütlichkeit

Links:


Photo: Parpan

D’ “Waerschtlamo”

Event:

Schlappentag

English:

Slipper day

Date:

The Monday after Trinity Sunday, which is the first Sunday after Pentecoste

Description:

A local public holiday which goes back more than 570 years. They even brew a special beer for this one. Read the unique history of this event at the link below.

Classification:

Beer, fun and Gemütlichkeit

Links:

http://www.stadt-hof.de/hof/hof_eng/living/schlappentag.html

Event:

Hofer Volksfest

English:

People’s festival

Date:

First week of August

Description:

The area’s largest festival with carnival rides, beer tents, oompah music and food.

Classification:

Beer, fun and Gemütlichkeit

Links:


Event:

Internationale Hofer Filmtage

English:

Hof International Film Festival

Date:

Last week of October every year

Description:

Started in 1967, celebrating the German film scene

Classification:

Culture, food and drink

Links:

http://www.stadt-hof.de/hof/hof_eng/living/hofer-filmtage.html