Around 600 metres east of Heyerode lies the Grenzhaus, once the western border point and customs collection station of the Dorla Vogtei, opposite the Eichsfeld, which was under Mainz rule. Historic buildings and sections of trails offer different starting points for planning a trip: one leads into the history of the border and land use, while the others place Heyerode along specific routes.
The Grenzhaus and Historic Routes
The Grenzhaus was first built as a road passage through a gate tower. After the Thirty Years’ War, it was a ruin; during its reconstruction, the solid tower floor was reused and the building was renovated as a half-timbered house. Later, it served as one of around ten documented foresters’ houses in the Hainich. The Grenzhaus is privately owned and not open to the public.
The history of the Mühlhausen–Treffurt railway line also relates to the site: opened in 1911, the line used the favourable terrain near the Grenzhaus to cross the mountain range. This historical connection adds another perspective on how the landscape was used at the time to its role as a border site.
The UntermĂĽhle on the Lempertsbach
The Untermühle lies on the boundary of the Hallungen district, beside the Lempertsbach. It is documented from 1548, operated until 1938 and is a fine example of half-timbered architecture. At the Grenzhaus, the half-timbering dates from its reconstruction after it fell into ruin; at the Untermühle, it is a feature of the building alongside its long operating history. This offers a comparison between two distinct building and usage histories: the border function and later use as a foresters’ house on one hand, and the mill’s operation on the Lempertsbach on the other.
Stages and Trail Connections
The Hainichland Trail makes Heyerode a clear stage point. Its third stage runs from Struth to Heyerode, and its fourth from Heyerode to Probstei Zella. The village is therefore the destination of one stage and the starting point of the next. If you include the route in your plans, this sequence can help you decide whether to reach Heyerode on the third stage or continue from there on the fourth. Check current trail conditions before setting out.
The Hainichland Trail is just under 130 kilometres long overall and passes through ridges, fertile floodplains and colourful meadows in every season. This describes the longer route as a whole; the two stages provide the specific connection to Heyerode. The bird sanctuary is a popular destination for hikers and cyclists.
Another trail connection is section 15 of the ARS-NATURA-X8, “Seventy Years of Peace in Europe”. It runs from the Heyerode/Südeichsfeld district near “Guten Hoffnung” or the road to Schierschwende to the Old Station in Heyerode. Its title highlights European peace; the named endpoints help locate the route. Unlike the sequence of stages on the Hainichland Trail, this section is identified by its number, title and endpoints.
Discover more destinations: Südeichsfeld, Oppershausen, Dachrieden, Rodeberg, Großengottern, Menteroda, Schönstedt, Kammerforst.
Back to the regional travel overview: Unstrut-Hainich.
