Schierstein

Was Schierstein a Roman outpost? Archaeological finds suggest it was. Right here in Schierstein a Roman colony once stood. Soldiers lived here. They fished and hunted. Their advanced guard protected the Empire. Imagine the Rhine River then. It was wider. A large lake existed north of Schierstein. It stretched west to Bingen. Sand and other evidence show it reached Nußberg and Freudenberg. The channel at Binger Loch deepened. The water level fell. Dry land appeared. People moved in. This is Schierstein’s beginning. Centuries passed. The Franks arrived. Charlemagne divided his kingdom. Schierstein became part of Königssondergau. The area west of Schierstein was named Rheingau. Schierstein’s name changed. It was Skerdesstein. Then Skerdisstein. Later Scerstein. This last name is close to the modern dialect pronunciation Scherstaa. Schierstein means fortress of Sherto. There was probably a castle. Roman bricks at the Söhnlein plant prove it. In 1275 a court functioned. The mayor and seven jury members decided cases. Schierstein suffered many wars. The Thirty Years War was especially brutal. Farms were devastated. Vineyards were abandoned. The plague killed many. Schierstein was heavily in debt. The Count of Nassau Georg August Samuel helped. He allowed free trade without taxes. Only in 1720 did Schierstein partially repay its debts. From 1745 to 1763 French and imperial troops occupied Schierstein. The Protestant Church was built then. The 19th century brought growth. A port was constructed. A tram connected Schierstein to Wiesbaden. In 1926 Schierstein became part of Wiesbaden. The Schierstein Kaserne housed occupation troops. French troops were here. Later English soldiers arrived. Then German troops moved in. After World War II the US Air Force used the Kaserne. It became the headquarters of the 497th Reconnaissance Technical Group. They left in 1992. Today residential housing stands here. Schierstein’s old town is charming. Narrow alleys are captivating. The Rococo Christophoruskirche is central. The Heritage Museum is nearby. A green space marks the location of the destroyed synagogue. A pair of white storks nests on a chimney. Many more storks breed in a nearby nature conservation area. The Schiersteiner Stork Association reintroduced them in 1972. Over 600 young storks were born. Many now live elsewhere. The Rheingau Palace once housed Söhnlein Sektkellerei. Now it is used for offices. Schierstein’s history is long and fascinating. It shows how Schierstein evolved. It is a unique place. It boasts a rich history. It has stunning views of the Rhine. It is vibrant and modern. It is truly the gateway to the Rheingau.