Travelers winding their way along the Princes Highway of South Australia will eventually come across a small town that looks like it would be more in place on a postcard of Germany than a short drive from Adelaide. But Hahndorf is no mirage: it's one of the most popular small towns to visit in all of South Australia.
Just a half-hour from Adelaide, Hahndorf almost feels like an entirely different world. Settled by Lutherans who longed to bring some of the comforts of home with them, the design of buildings feels decidedly central European, rather than new world. With less than 2,000 inhabitants, the town somehow still manages to maintain its quaint vibe while other nearby spots are being built up faster than people can even declare them the next new something.
With its numerous churches and bakeries, Hahndorf definitely feels like it should be perched on some mountaintop in Switzerland or Germany, though it is right in the middle of South Australia, instead. A number of historically important buildings are located in Hahndorf, from the first and most prestigious private learning institution in all of Australia to the oldest church in the country that has been continuously worshipped in. Travelers who enjoy looking at architecture will find both spots appealing, and both can be toured during regular business hours. St. Michael's Lutheran Church, established in 1839, is still in the same spot a couple of hundred years later, and in Australia, that's really saying something. Other important structures in town include some of its oldest houses as well as two other churches that have been around since almost the beginning.
It's not just the different buildings and steeples of Hahndorf that remind visitors of European chalets. From the small houses that serve as traveler accommodations in Hahndorf to the small bakeries ripe with the smell of freshly-baked bread, the entire attitude of the town feels like something out of a long-lost chapter of history. Markets with freshly smoked meats and rich cheeses are as popular as chain stores with prepackaged food, and the chocolate and German beer in town are both so delicious that you'll wonder at the fact that you aren't anywhere near the Alps, but rather, are in the Adelaide Hills of Australia instead.
If you are planning to visit Adelaide, visit us to find some great Adelaide Accommodation or for other destination ideas view our South Australia Accommodation. You will also find tours, events, attractions and other travel related information to help plan your trip to South Australia.
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