In Erbenhausen’s village center, there are a bakehouse and a fountain; a church dating from 1609 is also located there. There are hiking trails in the village, and hikes from Erbenhausen to Streuffelsberg, Stellberg and the 813-meter-high Ellenbogen are possible. This brings together a specific village center and several named destinations for a hiking-focused stay.
Village Center and Landscape
Erbenhausen lies on the right-hand source stream of the Felda. At the level of the municipality to which it belongs, Erbenhausen is in the southwest of the Vorderer Rhön, at the foot of the Alte Mark. The municipality is one of the municipalities in the district of Schmalkalden-Meiningen within the Rhön UNESCO Biosphere Reserve.
Hiking Trails and a Winter Option
The hiking trails in the village and the possible hikes from Erbenhausen offer different starting points for planning. Streuffelsberg and Stellberg are basalt peaks; despite their similar-sounding names, they are two different destinations. Ellenbogen is another hiking destination and is listed as 813 meters high. When choosing a destination, the exact peak name—and, for Ellenbogen, its elevation—can help. Check local trail conditions before setting out.
Groomed cross-country ski trails are also among Erbenhausen’s leisure activities, adding a seasonal option alongside hiking. Before your trip, check whether they are open during your visit. This lets you make hiking or a possible winter activity the focus of your stay without treating the two activities as the same offering.
History in the Village and Surrounding Area
In the area around Erbenhausen, remains of a prehistoric or early historic refuge fort have been preserved on the Alte Mark at an elevation of 676 meters. The village center and its surroundings thus represent different periods: the church is dated to 1609, while the remains on the Alte Mark are classified as prehistoric or early historic. The Alte Mark is also a landscape feature associated with the municipality, which lies at the foot of the hill.
More Things to Explore in the Wider Destination of Schmalkalden-Meiningen
In Schmalkalden, the Viba Nougat World combines a glass-walled factory, where visitors can experience nougat production, with hands-on confectionery courses. There, you can pour chocolate, decorate nougat and create pralines. Check course dates and booking conditions in advance if you would like to include this activity in your plans.
Also in Schmalkalden is the “Neue Hütte” blast furnace museum, a blast furnace complex dating from 1835. Local iron ores were smelted there using charcoal to produce pig iron until 1924. The museum features exhibitions on the nearly 1,300-year history of iron and steel goods production in the Schmalkalden region, including the well-known “Schmalkalder Artikel.” A guided tour covering the history and function of the blast furnace operation lasts 45 minutes.
In Meiningen, the Goetz Cave offers a different theme: it is Europe’s largest accessible fissure and crevice cave. Its fissures and crevices reach heights of up to 50 meters; the cave is 500 meters deep. Nougat, iron craftsmanship and cave landscapes are therefore additional themes in the wider destination of Schmalkalden-Meiningen, each at the locations named above.
When choosing where to stay, you can consider the focus you want: Erbenhausen offers a village center and hikes from there, Schmalkalden offers nougat and industrial history, and Meiningen offers the Goetz Cave. This lets you base your choice of destination on the specific locations mentioned before choosing your accommodation.
Discover more destinations: Friedelshausen, Oepfershausen, Frankenheim/Rhön, Oberhof, Wallbach, Rotterode, Hümpfershausen, Vachdorf.
Back to the main travel overview: Schmalkalden-Meiningen.
