Schimberg combines hiking and local history. The TOP-Wanderweg Westerwald starts in Martinfeld, where you can also find the GrabenmĂĽhle, Martinfeld Castle, and the Catholic Church of St. Ursula and Companions. This gives you two clear focal points for planning your trip: the circular trail or the local historic buildings.
Hiking the TOP-Wanderweg Westerwald
The TOP-Wanderweg Westerwald is a circular hiking trail. It starts and ends at the hikers’ car park by the Landhaus Westerwald in Martinfeld. The route passes the Martinfelder Fenster and Ershäuser Fenster viewpoints and bubbling streams, including the calcareous sinter springs in Wagental. Having the same car park as both the start and finish gives you a clear reference point for planning your day. Check current route conditions before setting out.
Mill, castle, and church in Martinfeld
The GrabenmĂĽhle in Martinfeld is a surviving water-powered mill dating from the 16th century. Martinfeld Castle was built as a manor house in 1611; the Catholic Church of St. Ursula and Companions was built in 1723. In addition to their dates, the sites differ in purpose: water power at the mill, a manor house at the castle, and a Catholic church. Together, they represent several aspects of local history that differ in both date and function.
Accommodation and hotel search
Martinfeld Castle is offered as self-catering accommodation for individuals and groups. If you are considering this accommodation option, check the booking details before making plans, as they may change. The description raises a practical question when choosing: does self-catering suit your travel plans?
More to explore in the Eichsfeld
The wider Eichsfeld travel destination offers other distinct themes. Bodenstein Castle was first mentioned in an official document in 1098 and stands on a mountain spur in the Ohmgebirge range. Regular guided tours at the castle cover the history of its former lords, the von Wintzingerode family; visitors can also visit the small chapel with its baptismal angel. If you are planning a guided tour, check the dates in advance. The Eichsfeld Museum, housed in the Baroque Jesuit College in Heilbad Heiligenstadt, covers the history, culture, religious life, and folklore of the Eichsfeld across three floors. The Eichsfeld’s regional traditions also include the annual Steckenpferd-Reiten, or hobbyhorse ride, held on Easter Monday in Dingelstädt: preschool children ride wooden hobbyhorses decorated with bells and colorful ribbons around St. Mary’s Church.
The castle and the museum appeal to different interests: at Bodenstein, the guided tours focus on former lords of the castle, while the museum covers several aspects of the region. For hiking, the DĂĽn and Iberg mountains around Heilbad Heiligenstadt offer good conditions for longer hikes on certified TOP hiking trails. This adds a regional hiking perspective to the local circular trail in Martinfeld. The Eichsfeld also has a culinary specialty: air-dried sausage is considered a regional delicacy and is known beyond the region.
Discover more destinations: Haynrode, Teistungen, Kirchworbis, Leinefelde-Worbis, Mackenrode, Martinfeld, Breitenworbis, Niederorschel
Back to the main travel overview: Eichsfeld.
