In Hessisch Lichtenau, the Frau Holle tale meets the town’s history. The Ars Natura circular trail leads to the Frau Holle statue in the church square. In Hirschhagen, a themed trail explores the history of the explosives factory there; Reichenbach adds a distinctive architectural-historical note with its Romanesque abbey church.
Frau Holle and the Old Town
Hessisch Lichtenau lies at the foot of the Hoher Meißner, on the German Fairy Tale Route and within the Frau-Holle-Land Geo-Nature Park. The town is considered a gateway to Frau-Holle-Land. The statue in the church square is a specific destination on the Ars Natura circular trail. An audio tour leads through the Old Town and can be started at any time, free of charge. Before your visit, check in the app whether the information about access and costs is still current.
The Frau Holle circular trail offers deaf visitors QR-code videos in German Sign Language or the option of experiencing the trail with an interpreter. This provides two different ways to explore the trail. The audio tour and the Frau Holle circular trail have different focuses: one leads through the Old Town, while the other is linked to the Frau Holle theme.
Hirschhagen: A Historical Themed Trail
From 1936 to 1945, one of the largest explosives factories of the Third Reich was built and operated in Hirschhagen, covering around 233 hectares and comprising almost 400 buildings. The self-guided themed trail is about 5 km long. Fifteen information panels cover the production of explosives and ammunition under inhumane and life-threatening conditions. They also describe daily life and the different treatment of workers, forced laborers and concentration camp prisoners. The trail therefore explores both the site’s industrial history and the living and working conditions of different groups.
For visitors interested in history, the Waldhorn restaurant in the Hirschhagen district offers horse-drawn wagon rides through the former factory site. If you plan to take this activity, confirm current availability directly with the operator. Both the themed trail and the wagon rides focus on the former factory site, but in different ways: the panels explore its history on foot, while the rides are offered by horse-drawn wagon.
Romanesque Architecture in Reichenbach
The abbey church in Reichenbach is a Romanesque, three-aisled basilica, built around 1140. “Three-aisled†describes how the church interior is divided into three aisles. Together with the approximate construction date, this term offers a distinct architectural perspective on the history of Hessisch Lichtenau. For visitors with a particular interest in historic architectural styles, the church offers a different focus from the themed trails about Frau Holle and Hirschhagen.
Hessisch Lichtenau in Its Regional Context
For tourism purposes, the Werra-Meißner district is part of the Frau-Holle-Land Geo-Nature Park. The Hoher Meißner is the highest mountain in the region and is considered Frau Holle’s home. This regional context is tangible in Hessisch Lichtenau, too: the town lies at the foot of the Hoher Meißner and is described as a gateway to Frau-Holle-Land. The mythical figure and the landscape are thus part of a broader regional context, while the statue, the Old Town and the history of Hirschhagen offer specific points of interest within the town.
You can choose between these themes according to your interests: Frau Holle and the Old Town, the history of the former explosives factory, or Romanesque architecture in Reichenbach. If you are looking for a hotel for a trip to Hessisch Lichtenau, these themes can help you plan your stay.
Discover more destinations: Großalmerode, Meißner, Berkatal, Wanfried, Eschwege, Herleshausen, Sontra, Wehretal.
View the regional travel overview: Werra-Meißner district.
