Excellent hiking conditions, a hang-gliding and paragliding school where you can give it a try, and historical points of interest make Crawinkel a destination for a trip combining outdoor activities and culture. These themes are quite distinct: open pastureland, guided insights and local history. You can plan your stay around whichever one interests you most.
Hiking and pastureland in Crawinkel
Thüringeti is open pastureland for horses and cattle, and is known for its great variety of species. The pastureland of Agrar Crawinkel also shapes the area's natural character, adding to the network of trails around the holiday destination. These trails are suited to hikers, mountain bikers and horse riders. Combined with the excellent hiking conditions, they give Crawinkel plenty to offer for outdoor activities.
Excursions, guided tours and air sports
Agrar GmbH runs excursions and specialist guided tours in Crawinkel for a range of groups. Guided tours at the Alte Mühle offer another specialist perspective, focusing on the production of millstones. Check current dates and access arrangements before visiting.
For tandem hang-gliding or paragliding flights, you can contact members of the Crawinkel air sports club. The hang-gliding and paragliding school offers another way to get involved for anyone who would like to try these activities. If you are planning a tandem flight, check current availability directly with the club members.
The church and local history of Crawinkel
A 1360 charter issued by Landgrave Friedrich of Thuringia referred to Crawinkel as a town. Crawinkel's first church was created in 1421 from the Marienkapelle (St Mary's Chapel), which is believed to have been founded around the year 1000. St Mary's Church has had its present form since 1758. These three dates trace the development of the church site over several centuries.
Instrument makers are also part of the town's history: their violins and zithers were renowned for their quality far beyond Thuringia. A special exhibition at the Mühlsteinhauermuseum is dedicated to the Compiègne railway carriage. Check current access arrangements before visiting.
More to discover in the wider Ohrdruf destination
The wider Ohrdruf destination has its own cultural attractions. The permanent exhibition at the Schloss Ehrenstein Museum explores Johann Sebastian Bach's childhood and youth in Ohrdruf from 1695 to 1700. Bach spent five formative years there with his older brother Johann Christoph; the Ohrdrufer Bachtage and the Bach Rad Erlebnisroute are linked to this period. The Bach Festival has been held every two years since its first edition in June 2010, featuring concerts, lectures and music projects. Check the dates of each edition before travelling.
Ohrdruf also has its own points of interest for industrial heritage and hiking. The Tobiashammer was built around 1480 as an iron, wire and sickle hammer mill. The Walter Schütz Nature Park Trail starts at the Ohrdruf Nature Park Gate, is 12 kilometres long and has an elevation gain of about 284 metres. These details provide useful planning information for excursions in the wider Ohrdruf destination; check trail conditions before setting out.
Discover more destinations: Gräfenhain, Seebergen, Luisenthal, Neudietendorf, Hohenkirchen, Waltershausen, Bienstädt, Gotha
Back to the overview of the wider destination: Gotha.
