THE CRAFTSPEOPLE
A place takes shape – the tanners
It’s all about the Nidda!
It is the city’s birthplace and lifeline. Where Bad Vilbel once emerged, the Nidda had a natural ford, making it possible to cross the river there.
Many trades depended on the course of the river and settled here. The Nidda provided people with fresh fish and served as a transport route. In winter the river often froze over, and the cut ice was used to cool cellars – especially those of brewers.
After tanning, the river also served the tanners for washing their leather and hides. The tanners had to rinse their foul-smelling hides after tanning in the flowing waters of the Nidda.
To do so, they held the hides on a hook in the river. If they didn’t pay attention for a moment, the hides would float away from them – an expression we still use today.
They weren’t popular: tanning heavily polluted the water and spread foul smells.
The Tanners’ Fountain commemorates this riverside trade. Today it’s a cosy little gem for pausing and enjoying. In Gerberpark, sporty activities await.
