Volkerode Castle stands high on a sandstone outcrop in the middle of the village. The castle complex was built in the 12th century and has Romanesque origins dating from 1140 to 1170. The castle was built in the mid-16th century; the listed castle ruins are next to the church. Volkerode therefore offers several different points of interest for visitors interested in architectural history and village culture.

Castle Ruins and St. Michael’s Church

St. Michael’s Church was built from 1780 to 1782 and dedicated to the Archangel Michael in 1786. It stands beside the former castle. Its Baroque architecture is evident in its design and specific details: St. Michael’s is a three-bay hall church with a three-sided choir, segmental-arched windows and pilasters on the choir and western nave section.

This brings together different historical accounts and architectural styles in one place: the medieval origins of the castle complex, the construction of the castle in the mid-16th century, and the later church.

Village Green, Chapels and Gobert

The well-preserved village green includes a court lime tree that is protected under nature conservation laws. It is estimated to be 600 to 800 years old. It adds a protected natural feature in the village to the history of the castle and church. The Lourdes Chapel, inaugurated in 1906, also stands on the slope of the Gobert ridge.

Volkerode lies at the foot of the Gobert. The Gobert is a hiking area whose highest point, at 537 metres, is the highest elevation in the Eichsfeld. Thus, when choosing a destination, visitors can consider both historic buildings and a landscape suited to hiking. Another local landmark is a wayside shrine typical of the Eichsfeld, at the edge of the village towards Wiesenfeld/Sickerode.

Festivals and Group Hikes

Volkerode’s Kirmes (traditional parish fair) is traditionally celebrated on the second Sunday in October, with a procession and brass band. If you would like to plan your trip around this festival, check the date for the relevant year in advance. The “Gobert” heritage and hiking association, founded in 1991, organises group hikes with neighbouring associations and traditional festivals. Both association activities and the annual Kirmes date are part of the local events calendar.

The Eichsfeld in a Broader Context

The Eichsfeld is home to other distinctive cultural attractions. Bodenstein Castle was first mentioned in a document in 1098 and stands on a mountain spur of the Ohmgebirge range. Regular guided tours there explore the history of the former lords of the castle, the von Wintzingerode family; visitors can also see the small chapel with its baptismal angel. If you would like to include a guided tour in your trip, check the dates in advance.

The Eichsfeld Museum, housed in the Baroque Jesuit college in Heilbad Heiligenstadt, offers a different perspective. Across three floors, it presents the history, culture, religious life and folklore of the Eichsfeld. These different themes complement one another: in Volkerode, the castle, church and Gobert are among the main attractions, while other regional sites offer further ways to explore the history and culture of the Eichsfeld.

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