Local attractions range from the Fairytale House on the historic market square to the local history museum, showcasing different options for planning your trip.
Fairytale House and the History of Crafts
At the Fairytale House on the historic market square, a thick, blonde Rapunzel braid hangs from the upper floor of a small half-timbered house. The Fairytale House features vividly staged fairy-tale scenes and curiosities, some of which are more than 150 years old. By arrangement, visitors can listen to a storyteller or reader. Check availability directly with the operator.
The local history museum is housed in two neighboring buildings behind St. Nicholas Church on the market square. On display are workshops representing more than ten different crafts. Fairy-tale motifs and craftsmanship thus offer two distinct cultural experiences: the storytelling world of the Fairytale House on the one hand, and the variety of trades displayed at the local history museum on the other.
Remembrance and Seasonal Activities
Since 2014, Stolpersteine—small memorial plaques—have been laid in Neukirchen every year in memory of Jewish families from the town who were stripped of their rights, expelled or murdered during the Nazi era. This local memorial tradition is distinct from the fairy-tale themes and is also part of the town’s character.
During the summer months, trained health consultants Silke and Holger Arndt offer introductory Kneipp courses. Ask about current offerings before planning a course. The indoor pool at the Badewelt Neukirchen is another option: the water temperature is 28 °C in both the swimming pool and the children’s paddling pool. Check opening hours in advance if you’re planning a specific visit.
In the wider destination of the Schwalm-Eder district
The Schwalm-Eder district encompasses upland landscapes around the Knüll, Kellerwald and Habichtswald ranges. The region’s cultural attractions also have their own distinct character. The Malerstübchen Museum in Willingshausen presents art history from the 19th and 20th centuries and displays paintings featuring traditional Schwalm costume. It also showcases traditional Schwalm handicrafts, including whitework embroidery, knitting and spinning. Guided by an expert, visitors can attend talks about the artists’ colony and its artists, as well as Schwalm customs and crafts.
At the Schwalm Museum in Schwalmstadt-Ziegenhain, a reconstructed pottery workshop displays the ceramic ware and pottery traditionally used in the region. The museum also houses a large model of Ziegenhain Water Fortress, showing its condition in 1761 after it was shelled during the Seven Years’ War. A permanent exhibition in the tithe barn at the Breitenau Memorial commemorates events of the Nazi era. Educational offerings include guided tours, walks, talks and readings.
Routes and Regional Planning
For a short hike in the Schwalm-Eder district, the Steinkammergrabrunde near Fritzlar-Lohne is one option: it is an easy 4.90-kilometer circular trail designated Nature Park Circular Trail L1. Another kind of tour is the Schwalm Cycle Route. It is around 100 kilometers long and leads to the point where the Schwalm flows into the Eder, just before Felsberg in the Schwalm-Eder district. For most of its length, it follows paved or surfaced paths through river landscapes of meadows, fields, villages and half-timbered towns. Felsberg-Gensungen and Schwalmstadt-Treysa are possible rail connections for accessing the cycle route; check current timetables in advance.
The Schlossbrunnenweg also leads to a historic destination: it passes a spring-fed pond on the way to the castle well, which once supplied Burg Wallenstein with fresh water. Check current conditions before settling on a hiking or cycling route. These regional routes and attractions complement the specific themes in Neukirchen, but should be treated as separate parts of your travel plans.
Discover more destinations: Asterode, Malsfeld, Wabern, Gudensberg, Felsberg, Ottrau, Bad Zwesten, Gilserberg.
Back to the main travel overview: Schwalm-Eder district.
