The Junker Hansen Tower offers a practical introduction to the history of Neustadt (Hesse): from March to November, it is open on the first Sunday of the month from 3 to 5 p.m., and admission is free. Visits are also possible by appointment. You can arrange themed guided tours with the town council. As opening hours may change, check visitor information before travelling.
Town history in the tower and on a guided tour
The permanent exhibition in the Junker Hansen Tower covers the historic town in the Marburg region and Neustadt’s history from the Stone Age to the present day. The town districts of Mengsberg, Momberg and Speckswinkel are also among its subjects. The exhibition thus spans a broad period and adds the named districts to the town’s history.
If you would like to get to know Neustadt on a guided walk, allow about two hours. The Neustadt tour begins at the market square in front of the old town hall. On the tour, visitors see the Catholic Church and the Junker Hansen Tower, both inside and out; the guides provide relevant information. A visit inside is part of this tour. Check current dates with the guide. The so-called “Burgsitze” offer another glimpse into the town’s history: two still remain in Neustadt today.
Walking and cycling routes
The 11-kilometre Gaukler Loop leads from the Junker Hansen Tower through the Maculinea FFH protected area to Gleimenhain and back through the Otterbach Valley to BĂĽrgerpark in Neustadt. The route connects these named stops and landscapes in a circular walk. Check current route information before setting out.
The “Märchenhafter Herrenwald” hiking trail leads from Neustadt to the centre of the Herrenwald forest and back. A bear paw serves as the trail symbol. For cycling, there is the Junker Hansen Cycle Tour: the loop is about 18 kilometres long, starts and ends at Neustadt railway station, and passes through Neustadt’s town districts. The two options differ in length and mode of travel, so you can plan your day around the route you prefer.
Nature trails in the Mengsberg district
There is also a nature trail in Mengsberg, a district of Neustadt. Its route runs from the pollarded hornbeam forest with its stag beetle population past the children’s forest and the “Tree of the Year” enclosure to the forest nature trail and orchard meadow. Passing the alder carr and Lindenplatz, it returns to the leisure and sports grounds at Engelshain.
The “Rund um den Engelhain” nature trail is a roughly three-kilometre circular route north of Mengsberg. It is suitable for younger nature lovers and older walkers. The start and finish are at the leisure and sports grounds at Engelshain; according to the tour description, there is ample parking there. This means Mengsberg offers two nature routes with different descriptions: a loop with a stated length and target groups, and a nature trail with several named stops.
The Rotkäppchen-Bad is recommended as an alternative when the weather is unpleasant for outdoor activities. If you plan to go, check current visiting options in advance.
Regional context: Marburg-Biedenkopf
The wider destination of Marburg-Biedenkopf offers a broader landscape and cultural setting: the district includes varied low-mountain landscapes, numerous half-timbered villages, and historic and modern towns. The Route of Industrial and Working Culture conveys the history of work and industry and explores the historic and modern capabilities of local businesses. Its sites are designed as extracurricular learning venues, with interactive stations that share knowledge about the region. These regional themes complement Neustadt’s local attractions without being the same as them.
Discover more destinations: Gladenbach, Wetter, Kirchhain, Fronhausen, Biedenkopf, Bad Endbach, Dautphetal, Römershausen
Return to the regional travel overview: Marburg-Biedenkopf.
