With the signing of the membership application by Mayor Erich Spamer, the town of Büdingen becomes the newest FORTE CULTURA member. The Upper Hessian fortress town not only features a picturesque old town with half-timbered houses and a fortified castle, but has also been protected for centuries by a well-preserved massive city wall with rondels. With Büdingen, the FORTE CULTURA region of North and Upper Hesse gains another strong fortress partner and strengthens the tourism axis between Mainz and Erfurt. Other partners in Hesse include the fortresses of Ziegenhain and Rüsselsheim.