29 Welcome to the U.S. Army Garrison Grafenwoehr. Grafenwoehr - Your Home away from Home Cycle trail ‚hammer mills and mills‘ The cycle trail connects historic operating sites in today’s municipal area of Grafenwöhr and provides information on their long and successful history on display boards. The boards show old views of the hammer mills and mills. Information in English is available via the QR-Code on the boards. The 30kilometer route runs mostly on signposted bike paths and is marked with the „Hammer und Mill wheel“ sign at important junctions. Water power and wood – these two raw materials helped the Upper Palatinate to economic prosperity in the Middle Ages. They were the basis for the extraction and processing of iron. Rich ore deposits, dense forests and powerful rivers made the Upper Palatinate the „Ruhr area of the Middle Ages“. Around Grafenwoehr, too, there are numerous testimonies to the former iron industry. Since time immemo- Dear American guests, Let me tell you something about your “Home far away from Home” Grafenwoehr. Through its 660-year history the city of Grafenwoehr has provided its residents and visitors with a plethora of entertainment and activities. This tradition continues today. Visitors can explore historical documents in the Altstadt (historical town center), starting with the late Gothic Rathaus (town hall), which was constructed in 1462, and is therefore older than Columbus’ famous voyage to the Americas. Currently, the city’s administration conducts business in the Rathaus. The City Council meets there and residents hold wedding ceremonies in the building’s historical rooms. In the past, the building also functioned as a school, a bank, fire department, police station, night-watchman quarters and as a prison. The Rathaus is a single building in the center of the market square, which is typical for a 14th century town. In front of the Rathaus is the Mariensaeule (Saint Mary column), which was constructed in 1922 in memory of the Grafenwoehr residents who died in World War I. It also honors the victims of World War II and the allied bombings on April 5 and April 8, 1945. The plague column located at the lower market square dates back to 1496. It is assumed that it was constructed in appreciation by the survivors of the plague. Not only history buffs will be interested in the Kultur- und Militaermuseum (Cultural and Military Museum), which is located next to the city pond and city park. The newly designed exhibition at the Culture and Military Museum in 2015 considers in addition to the long-lasting history of the Grafenwoehr Training Area, the development of the city and shows the many facets of coexistence of the local population with the stationed soldiers of the US Army. Complex groups of visitors, also members of the allied forces stationed, can thus discover an interesting and unique exhibition on one’s own or with guided tours. They even will meet Elvis Presley! Grafenwoehr’s churches and small chapels provide another opportunity for exploration. For example, the 15th century «Alte Pfarrkirche» with its rich Baroque interior, provides a sharp contrast to the modern Friedenskirche (Peace Church) which boasts a 114-square meter altarpiece. Cycle trail “hammer mills and mills” The cycle trail connects historic operating sites in today’s municipal area of Grafenwoehr and provides information on their long and successful history on display boards. The boards show old views of the hammer mills and mills. Information in English is available via the QR-Code on the boards. The 30- kilometer route runs mostly on signposted bike paths and is marked with the „Hammer und Mill wheel“ sign at important junctions. Water power and wood – these two raw materials helped the Upper Palatinate to economic prosperity in the Middle Ages. They were the basis for the extraction and processing of iron. Rich ore deposits, dense forests and powerful rivers made the Upper Palatinate the „Ruhr area of the Middle Ages“. Around Grafenwoehr, too, there are numerous testimonies to the former iron industry. Since time immemorial, water power has also been used to drive mill wheels. Hammers and mills thus alternate along the river and stream courses in the area. New function for old hammer mills - After the decline of the iron industry after the 30-year war, many hammer estates were converted into glass and polishing loops. The method of drive was the same, the water wheels now drove loops in the polishing and a new period of prosperity for the historic estates began. At the beginning of the 20th century, the industries were no longer profitable and the water wheels, which provided energy for centuries, were shut down.
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