Imagine snow geese filling the sky. Simmershausen’s residents are fondly called Schneegänse, snow geese.
Welcome to Simmershausen, a charming part of Fuldatal. It sits in the Landkreis Kassel area of northern Hesse. This place has a story that goes back nearly a thousand years.
Simmershausen was first mentioned in 1074. Back then, it was called Simareshusun. That was in the property records of Hasungen Monastery. Over time, the name changed. Simaressun, Simeressun, and Symershusen are just some of the variations. These changes show how people pronounced the name.
Ludolph I Groppe von Gudenberg gave the church patronage to Ahnaberg Monastery in 1308. One of his daughters was accepted into this monastery. Burkhardt von Schöneberg sold the village to the Landgraviate of Hesse in 1397.
West of Simmershausen once stood Barghausen. This small place was abandoned in the 14th century. Its residents likely moved to Simmershausen.
In 1970, Simmershausen joined with other villages. Ihringshausen, Wahnhausen, Knickhagen, and Wilhelmshausen formed Fuldatal. Simmershausen became a part of this larger community.
Simmershausen sits a few kilometers north of Kassel. It lies near the Fulda River. The Espe stream flows through the village. Locals call it “Haufe”. It empties into the Fulda nearby. The village rests on a slope west of the river. Simmershausen boasts eleven bridges. This makes it the most bridge-filled place in Fuldatal.
Archaeological finds reveal older history. Building sites for new farms unearthed remains. These remains were from a Bandkeramik settlement dating back to around 3000 BC.
Around 1081, different benefactors gave Simmershausen lands to Hasungen Monastery. Around 1120, the income register of Helmarshausen Monastery listed property in Simmershausen. The freeman Sicco transferred two hides and the freeman Gazelin two and a half hides to the monastery. The Nordhausen Monastery owned a farm in Simmershausen in 1271.
The parish of Frommershausen belonged to Simmershausen in 1569.
Simmershausen offers well-preserved half-timbered houses. You can also visit the Fuldatal local history museum. The Wassererlebnishaus Fuldatal provides learning experiences about water.
Simmershausen has seen many changes. From ancient settlements to modern community. It holds stories within its landscape. Next time you hear the honking of geese overhead, remember the Schneegänse of Simmershausen and the stories that echo through this village.