Steinfurth: The oldest rose village invites you to blooming rose days!

Steinfurth: The oldest rose village invites you to blooming rose days!

In the middle of the picturesque Wetterau lies Steinfurth, a small village that has made a name for itself in the rose growing business with an impressive history. Since the 19th century, this place has attracted rose lovers and garden enthusiasts from all over the world, accompanied by the tradition that began with the founding of the first rose school in Germany in 1868. The Frankfurter Neue Presse reports that the Rosenhof Schultheis, founded by Heinrich Schultheis, is not only the oldest rose school in the republic, but also the cradle of countless rose varieties.

Heinrich Schultheis, who acquired his knowledge of rose cultivation in England, opened a business that has been growing garden roses for five generations. His goal was clear: he wanted to breed rose plants by refining wildlings that would become popular both in Germany and internationally. Steinfurth now has over 3,000 different types of roses, ranging from noble roses to climbing roses, which can be admired in the show gardens. Every year, the companies based there ship more than two million varieties worldwide, which once again underlines the importance of this small place.

A place to bloom and celebrate

Steinfurth's rosy tradition is also reinforced by events such as Rose days, which begins next weekend, June 14th and 15th. On these days, the gardens of Steinfurth open their doors to visitors, who can look forward to guided tours, lectures and workshops. From 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., guests will feel like they are in paradise - surrounded by thousands of blooming roses and a variety of garden products.

The Rose Museum in Steinfurth, with its permanent exhibition “Rosey Times” and the special exhibition “The Dark Side of the Rose”, offers a deep insight into the art and cultural history of this fascinating floral miracle. The topics range from the rose as a symbol of love to its function as a medicinal plant and “field gold”. This makes it clear that the rose is not just a plant, but a piece of cultural history that is rooted in Steinfurth.

A blooming story

But how did the roses actually come to bloom? In the middle of the 19th century, Steinfurth was a rather poor village with a population of craftsmen and day laborers. Most of the properties were owned by the Barons von Löw, and the economic situation was tense. However, the returnee Heinrich Schultheis managed to establish the rose culture, which not only created local jobs but also established supra-regional connections. In the first decade of his work, the Schultheis brothers began selling roses all over Europe, and these floral beauties even found their way to St. Petersburg.

The beginnings of this flourishing industry were characterized by hard work: in 1872, Schultheis presented 8,000 standard roses on the market, and soon afterwards one of his brothers, Anton, emigrated to the USA, where he started the Schultheis Brothers company. The story of Steinfurth was celebrated not only in Germany but also worldwide as a success story in rose cultivation.

However, the legacy surrounding rose cultivation also comes with challenges. The First World War brought setbacks, but Steinfurth found a new beginning after the war in 1918. The location has established itself as an attraction with over three large rose businesses that offer exciting festivities every other year, such as the traditional Rose Festival, which attracts tens of thousands of visitors. The next edition will take place from July 10th to 12th, 2026.

The attractiveness of Steinfurth lies not only in its historical heritage, but also in the enduring love for roses. This small town remains a thriving center for rose lovers and gardeners - a thriving community that makes history with every bloom and fascinates new visitors. The Rose cultivation is not just a job, but also a matter of the heart that connects and inspires the people here.