Veilsdorf brings together three route connections and a local history that can be dated with precision. The Werra Valley Cycle Path, the Werra Castles Trail and the Thuringian Porcelain Route pass through the municipality. The porcelain manufactory in Kloster Veilsdorf and two churches provide concrete historical points of reference for the town’s history. When planning your trip, you can choose different focuses among these routes and historical themes.
Porcelain in Kloster Veilsdorf
Prince Eugen of Hildburghausen, Duke of Saxe-Hildburghausen, founded a porcelain manufactory in 1760 in the buildings of the Kloster Veilsdorf monastic estate. The former ducal forester’s lodge in Kloster Veilsdorf was built in 1762 in connection with the manufactory founded by Prince Eugen. An information board about the Kloster Veilsdorf porcelain works stands in front of an old monastery cellar. If you include this location in your plans, check in advance whether access is possible.
Churches and local history
The Trinity Church in Veilsdorf was built in 1604. St. Vitus Church is mentioned in a document as early as 1308. After the Trinity Church was built, St. Vitus Church served as a cemetery church. Those interested in the town’s history can explore two different themes: the chronology of its churches and the porcelain manufactory in Kloster Veilsdorf.
Hildburghausen district: landscape and culture
The district of Hildburghausen is an important part of the Thuringian Forest recreation region. It includes an unbroken woodland area in the Thuringian Forest Nature Park; the Vessertal Biosphere Reserve also shapes the district. In the Rodachaue pasture landscape, the roof of the observation platform offers panoramic views across the meadows. Konik horses and Heck cattle contribute to the development of a near-natural landscape there.
The museums in the district of Hildburghausen also each have a different focus. Hennebergisches Museum Kloster VeĂźra is a 6-hectare open-air museum with four themed areas: monastic history, half-timbered architecture, everyday life in the Henneberg region, and agricultural technology and sustainability. The German Castle Museum at Veste Heldburg presents the history and culture of castles in Europe from the Middle Ages to the present day. Its permanent exhibition is laid out as a tour through the entire fortress; visitors can see how castle construction changed from one era to the next.
Another specific route in the district is the Mill Trail in the municipality of Straufhain. It is about 7 km long and passes through an area where nine grain and sawmills once operated. Information boards at their former sites describe the mills. The approximate length and the history of the mills give this walk its own distinct focus. In the district of Hildburghausen, the Werra Valley is suitable for hiking and cycling; from Themar downstream, it is also possible to explore by water. In the district, the Werra Valley Cycle Path runs through the Werra floodplains and is particularly popular for cycling downstream.
Discover more destinations: Ummerstadt, Gießübel, Biberschlag, Reurieth, Suhl, Straufhain, Nahetal-Waldau, Römhild.
For the broader travel overview: Hildburghausen-Suhl.
