Find hotels in Messel: Messel Pit and half-timbered houses

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Tatjana Herzegova, Kiew, Ukraine

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Markus Lenk, Düsseldorf, Germany

Messel offers three distinct points of interest for a stay: the Messel Pit fossil site, the historic town center with its protected heritage status, and several hiking trails. Natural and architectural history go hand in hand here, along with opportunities to explore the surrounding area on foot.

The Messel Pit and Fossils

In 1995, the Messel Pit was designated Germany’s first UNESCO World Heritage Site. The fossil site documents the history of the Earth 47 million years ago; the preservation, quantity and variety of the fossils found there are unique. A viewing platform on the site offers a view into the pit. The “Zeit und Messelwelten” visitor center serves as the northern gateway to the Bergstraße-Odenwald Geo-Nature Park.

For selected exhibits, particularly fossils, the Fossils and Local History Museum in Messel offers spoken explanations that can be accessed on a smartphone. Written explanations are also provided alongside the exhibits. You can explore the exhibition using the texts and access spoken explanations for selected items as well.

Historic Town Center

The protected historic town center of Messel mainly comprises buildings on both sides of Bruchgasse, Langgasse, Hanauer Straße and Holzhäusergasse. Two-story half-timbered houses with gable ends facing the street, farmsteads, sandstone gateposts and steep, red-tiled gable roofs characterize the streetscapes. The settlement structure can be traced back to the Carolingian period. Alongside the geological history of the pit, the town center offers a glimpse into Messel’s architectural and settlement history: half-timbered houses, courtyards and roof shapes give the streetscapes their distinctive character.

Hiking Trails by Length and Theme

The easy, 11 km Urpferdchen Trail is a circular hike around the UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Messel Pit. It passes the Messel Local History Museum and spoil heaps, following in the footsteps of the prehistoric horse. The very easy, 14.8 km Mörsbacher Grund Loop passes through extensive forests, meadows and small ponds; along the way are the Fossil Museum in Messel, a landgrave’s hunting pavilion and burial mounds.

The Kranichstein Forest Trail is 15.2 km long and easy to walk. It leads from the Messel Pit through Kranichstein Forest to Kranichstein Hunting Lodge. The first two trails mentioned are circular hikes; the Kranichstein Forest Trail leads from the pit through the forest to a named destination. The options therefore differ not only in length but also in route and theme. At 11 km, the Urpferdchen Trail is the shortest of the three routes mentioned.

Getting Around

Parking is available at the Messel Pit Visitor Center for the hike around the pit. The address is Roßdörfer Straße 108, 64409 Messel; the Messel Pit Visitor Center bus stop is also located there. If you are traveling by bus, check the timetable before setting off.

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