Ellingshausen reveals three distinct building histories: the castle from 1605, the church from 1775, and the Bakunin Hut, which was built as a wooden hut and later converted into a stone house. When planning a visit, the distinction between the grounds and the building itself is especially important: the club grounds can be entered at any time, but the hut itself is usually locked.
Castle and Church Building
Ellingshausen Castle is a three-storey stone building with rendered walls, built in 1605. Most of the castle’s curtain wall has been preserved; particularly from the southern neck ditch and from the west, it conveys an impressive sense of medieval fortification. The number of storeys and the architectural form stand out at the castle, while the impression made by the wall depends on its state of preservation and the viewing direction.
The Ellingshausen Church was built in 1775 to replace an older church. On the outside, it is a simple, single-nave hall church with a rectangular choir. Inside, the altar area with its choir screen and pulpit altar, the gallery fronts, and the side panels of the pews are decorated in a unified style. Light-coloured Rococo-style carvings are set against light- or dark-stained wood. The church thus combines an understated exterior with a decorated interior; the unified design connects the altar area, galleries, and pews.
Bakunin Hut: Building History and Visits
The Bakunin Hut is located on the Hohe Maas in the Ellingshausen district. It was built as a wooden hut in the 1920s and later converted into a stone house. The change from a wooden structure to a stone house marks two distinct building phases and gives the hut its own place alongside the castle and church.
You can look inside the Bakunin Hut by arrangement with the club; please arrange any desired interior visit in advance. The Bakunin Hut hiking club offers guided hikes to or around the hut on request. When planning, it is therefore important to distinguish between the accessible club grounds, an arranged look inside, and a guided hike.
Route to Einhausen
A farm track leads directly to Ellingshausen and then on to Einhausen. There, the Haseltal Cycle Route and the Werratal Cycle Route meet. This makes it clear where the two cycle routes come together: in Einhausen, not Ellingshausen.
More to Explore in the Schmalkalden-Meiningen Destination
The wider Schmalkalden-Meiningen destination also offers distinct cultural and discovery experiences in Schmalkalden. At the Viba Nougat World, visitors can see soft, melting nougat being made in a glass-walled workshop. Hands-on confectionery classes include pouring chocolate, decorating nougat, and creating pralines. This offers a practical, hands-on way to learn about confectionery making.
The “Neue Hütte” Blast Furnace Museum in Schmalkalden offers a different perspective. The blast furnace plant, built in 1835, smelted local iron ore into pig iron using charcoal until 1924. The exhibition explores the almost 1,300-year history of iron and steel goods production in the Schmalkalden region, including the well-known “Schmalkalder Artikel” (Schmalkalden products). A 45-minute guided tour focuses on the history and function of the blast furnace operation. The wider Schmalkalden-Meiningen destination thus offers hands-on confectionery making and industrial history as distinct themes to choose from.
Discover more destinations: Kaltensundheim, Bermbach, Henneberg, Zella-Mehlis, Walldorf, Friedelshausen, Roßdorf, Jüchsen
Back to the main travel overview: Schmalkalden-Meiningen.
