At the Mühlenplatz in Gieselwerder, the water of the Lumbach is channelled through delicate runnels to the watermills and used to power the milling machinery. Water is therefore both part of the landscape in Gieselwerder and a tangible point of reference for its technology. The town lies directly on the Weser, between the river and the Reinhardswald; meadows and fields stretch along the foot of the forest.

Watermills and Miniatures

The Mühlenplatz features faithfully reproduced miniatures of watermills, castles and palaces, churches and town halls. The models are built to scales of 1:25 and 1:40. Alongside the milling technology, they put a range of building types in the spotlight—from mills and churches to town halls. The different scales give the models a clear sense of size.

Traces of Local History

Historic half-timbered houses cluster around the site of Gieselwerder’s former moated castle, where the town hall now stands. Remains of the curtain wall, a gate and a round tower survive in the surrounding wall. Iron cannonballs are displayed at the gate. They were embedded in oak planks and recovered from the Weser directly in front of the castle during the construction of the first bridge in 1899.

At the Gieselwerder History Workshop, visitors can view murals depicting old Gieselwerder and archaeological finds from excavations. The Protestant Church of Christ, built in 1813, provides another firm historical reference point. Today, Gieselwerder is known as the “Snow White Village” as part of the German Fairy Tale Route.

Eco Trail and Cycling Tours

The Eco Path Castles Museums Water Gieselwerder guides visitors as they explore the town and traces its history from the castles fought over in the Middle Ages and the ford across the Weser to shipping and timber rafting in the last century. The trail is around 6 km long and can be shortened to 4 km via Neustadtstraße. The shorter route therefore reduces the distance by around 2 km. The route description reflects the status as of April 2013.

There are two different route options for cycling tours. The main route of the Weser Cycle Route passes the bridge near Gieselwerder and then continues along the right bank of the Weser. A circular cycling tour along the Weser follows the R1 on the left bank to Gieselwerder, crosses the river there and returns towards Hann. Münden along the Weser Cycle Route. The circular tour therefore includes the approach along the left bank and the crossing at Gieselwerder; after the bridge, the main route continues along the right bank. As route details may change, it is advisable to check the current route before setting off on a cycling tour.

Mühlenplatz Opening Hours

During the 2026 season, the Mühlenplatz is open to visitors on Thursdays and Sundays from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Discover more destinations: Gewissenruh, Gottstreu.

Return to the main travel overview: Oberweser.