Ever heard of the Fruit Orchard of the Anterior Taunus? That’s Kriftel. We are standing in Kriftel a municipality in the Main-Taunus district in Hesse Germany. Kriftel is situated 16 km west of Frankfurt.
Kriftel is known for its fields mainly used for producing strawberries. It has about 11000 inhabitants. The town has a rich history dating back to the Middle Ages. Its origins are traced to the 8th century. Kriftel was first mentioned in 790.
Let me tell you a story about Kriftel’s history. In July AD 754 the track which carried the dead Saint Boniface rested in the village overnight. They built the Bonifatiuskapelle to honor the saint. The Thirty Years’ War damaged Kriftel including the chapel. It was not rebuilt until 1755. A big fire destroyed almost the entire village in 1661. Only four houses out of 38 survived.
From 1945 until the oil crisis in 1973 Kriftel experienced a population boom. Massive immigration occurred due to urban sprawl. Workers of the Hoechst-AG were offered cheap land for housing. The chapel had to be relocated in 1959 because of community growth.
During the mid-1970s Kriftel fought for independence. Hofheim the capital of the Main-Taunus district wanted Kriftel to belong to it. Airaines has been Kriftel’s French sister city since 1981. The Platz von Airaines at the train station was named after this partnership.
Kriftel has two churches. One is the catholic St Vitus. The other is the protestant Auferstehungskirche. There are three schools. They are the Lindenschule a comprehensive school and a vocational training school. Kriftel lies at the federal motorway A 66 and the regional train line S 2.
Kriftel is known for its good leisure facilities. There are multiple playgrounds. Kriftel has a large play park. It sports an outdoor swimming pool. It also has sports fields including for football and volleyball. A miniature golf course a quarter pipe for skating and extensive playgrounds are there too.
The village hosts various club activities. The most important clubs are the SV 07 Kriftel soccer and the Turn- und Sportverein Kriftel sports in general. There are also large community festivals. The most prominent are the Lindenblütenfest and the Krifteler Kerb.
Kriftel is twinned with Airaines in France and Pilawa Gorna in Poland. To honor the town partnership the station forecourt was named Platz von Airaines.
The Kriftel you see today is a blend of old and new. It is a testament to the resilience and spirit of its people. From its humble beginnings as a small village Kriftel has grown into a vibrant community. It retains its charm and character. Take a moment to appreciate the unique blend of history culture and community that makes Kriftel so special.