Bad Homburg v. d. Höhe. The city of Bad Homburg invites you to this year’s Apple Day on Platzenberg on Sunday, September 20, 2026, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. This popular event offers visitors of all ages a varied program centered on orchard meadows, nature conservation, regional products, and the apple as a symbol of a diverse cultural landscape. Co-organizers include the Platzenberg Landscape Conservation Association, the Kirdorfer Feld Interest Group, BUND, NABU, the Berliner Siedlung Association, and the Naturfamilien und Umwelthelden Association.
Against the impressive backdrop of the Platzenberg, guests can look forward to an informative and exciting day in the heart of a unique natural and cultural landscape.
Interesting Facts About Apples, Fruit, and Orchard Meadows
At the booths of the participating associations and nature conservation organizations, visitors can find extensive information about native fruit varieties as well as the establishment, use, and preservation of orchard meadows. Expert representatives will offer valuable tips for property owners, hobby gardeners, and anyone interested in regional nature conservation efforts.
Pomologist Werner Nussbaum, a recognized expert in fruit science, will identify fruits brought to the event, explain historical and rare fruit varieties, and provide practical advice on proper fruit tree care. Interested visitors can have their own fruit identified and engage in conversation with the expert.
Family Program: Hands-On Activities and Experiences
Families with children, in particular, can look forward to numerous hands-on activities. Apple Day offers young visitors the opportunity to experience firsthand the journey from apple to juice. At the juicer, children can process apples themselves and, of course, taste the results right away.
The focus is on discovering, learning, and experiencing things together. Through play, children learn about the importance of orchard meadows for people and nature and why preserving them is so crucial for future generations.
Regional Specialties and Local Delicacies
Apple Day also has plenty to offer in terms of cuisine. The participating clubs will provide refreshments with a selection of local specialties. Among other things, they’ll be serving bratwurst, cakes, and regional apple-based products.
Visitors can look forward to homemade apple wine, refreshing apple secco, and naturally cloudy apple juice. Thus, Apple Day invites visitors not only to learn and discover, but also to enjoy regional products.
Guided tours of one of the city’s most valuable biotopes
Another highlight of the program is guided walks through the Platzenberg’s orchard meadows. Certified nature guides from the Taunus Nature Park will accompany interested guests through the species-rich meadow landscapes and explain their ecological features.
Participants will learn fascinating facts about the wide variety of animal and plant species found in these habitats, the historical development of the orchard meadows, and their importance for climate protection, biodiversity, and local recreation. The tours highlight why these unique biotopes continue to play a decisive role in shaping Bad Homburg’s landscape to this day.
Experience Beekeeping Up Close
Beekeeper Manfred Rubel offers insights into the world of bees. Visitors can taste and purchase honey and other bee products, as well as learn interesting facts about pollination, bee conservation, and ecological relationships.
Apple Day for More Than 20 Years
The history of Bad Homburg’s Apple Day dates back to 2005. The first event was organized in response to the growing challenges facing the city’s orchard meadows. The Apple Day was intended to raise awareness of the importance of orchard meadows for people, nature, and the landscape, as well as to create a network of dedicated citizens, clubs, and nature conservation organizations.
The positive response from the public and the numerous successful maintenance and conservation efforts have meant that Apple Day has long since become a fixture on the spa town’s calendar of events. Today, it is held on a rotating basis in the city’s four main orchard areas: on the Platzenberg, in the Kirdorfer Feld, at the Wingert in Ober-Erlenbach, and at the Pilgerrain in Gonzenheim.
Commitment to Nature, Landscape, and Biodiversity
On Platzenberg in particular, the preservation of the orchard groves depends to a great extent on the commitment of private landowners, as relatively few areas there are owned by the city. This makes the support provided by dedicated citizens, organizations, and volunteers all the more important.
The city of Bad Homburg supports the protection and development of orchard meadows through, among other things, intensive public outreach and financial incentives as part of its orchard meadow support program.
Information is also available on-site from the Environment and Landscape Planning Department and the city ranger.
Environmentally Friendly Travel Recommended
The organizers recommend traveling by public transportation, on foot, or by bicycle. Since there are few parking options in the immediate vicinity, direct access by car is not possible.
Platzenberg is easily accessible via the “Bommersheimer Weg” and “Stettiner Straße” bus stops, which are served by Bus Line 3. From there, a short walk of about five to ten minutes along paved paths through the meadows leads directly to the event venue.
