Dettelbach

Coming from Italy where we visited Venice and Belluno, and also for example Innsbruck in Austria in May 2026, we went back up home to the north. In the morning we woke up at the Königssee in the uttermost southeast of Germany. After like five an hour drive, we wanted to take a little longer break and found an Abbey to check out with a café next to it. During the visit I realized Kurt Hielscher left his marks in close-by Dettelbach, only 7 kilometers, a ten minute drive, back to the east.

Dettelbach has just only over seven thousand inhabitants but was granted town status in 1484. Then, it was decided to build a new town hall. Construction was completed in 1512. Parts of an earlier town hall survived, including wooden columns dated to 1388 and a carved keystone from 1402, both incorporated into the new structure. Built entirely of stone rather than timber, the Rathaus symbolized Dettelbach's growing prosperity and regional importance. Over the centuries it served not only as the seat of local government but also housed a school, municipal offices, and other civic functions. Following a major restoration between 1986 and 1990, the historic building once again became the town hall. Because we visited Dettelbach late in the afternoon, it was closed and couldn't try to get a glimpse of its interior. Kurt Hielscher probably made his photo from a balcony of the opposite building. 

"Am Bach", the name of the street accompanying the river Dettelbach in the center of Dettelbach close to the Rathaus.

The moment I decided that I made my best shot and wanted to leave, a lady appeared on that balcony and I felt her curiosity when she saw me and Kim with the book. I hesitated to contact her and felt Kim wanted to leave with the boys waiting in for us in the van, so we left, hence for now this is the best result, but maybe I need to come back one day. 

Strolling around the city walls of Dettelbach.

The house behind the Rathaus was made half-timbered somewhere in the past century.

More impressions of Dettelbach.

Before we visited Dettelbach, we made a stop at Abtei Münsterschwarzach.

And had some coffee at the Benediktiner.

Inside the Benediktiner Café.

Another nearby small town with the size of a village where I stepped into the footsteps of Kurt Hielscher three years ago, Iphofen, is situated just 17 kilometer to the south. And we are also familiar with Kitzingen where we used to stop on our way to the Balkans years ago. And ofcourse Würzburg, where we stayed for the night in December 2019 on our way to the Czech Republic.

We moved on for another two and a half hour drive and ended the day in beautiful Idstein, from where, till now, I have not find photos by the hand of Kurt Hielscher yet, which is a pity, because for sure Idstein would have deserved some photos in one of his books.

Idstein at night.

Below: View on the characteristic houses at the Häfner Markt in Dettelbach.