Bensheim, Administrative municipality in Hesse, Germany.
Bensheim is a municipality in Landkreis Bergstraße in Hesse, located on the western edge of the Odenwald and made up of nine separate districts. The settlements spread between the flatlands near the Rhine and the wooded hills, with each district keeping its own character.
The settlement grew from Roman origins and was first mentioned in 8th-century documents about wine production. During the Middle Ages, it developed into an important trading center along the Bergstrasse route.
The town's name derives from the old family name Benzo, meaning "home of Benzo" in its medieval form. Local wine festivals take place in several districts throughout the year, where residents gather to taste wines produced on the surrounding slopes.
The main train station connects the municipality to Frankfurt and Heidelberg through regular trains. Local bus lines serve all nine districts and allow trips between the center and the surrounding neighborhoods.
The municipality manages 588 hectares of vineyards along the Bergstrasse, which count among Germany's northernmost wine-growing areas. Many wine estates open their courtyards during harvest time for visitors who want to experience the winemaking process up close.
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