Churches dating from different centuries, a local history museum offering insights into rural life, and two Rhön circular trails described in different ways give Kaltennordheim clear starting points for a stay. To plan your visit, first consider whether you are more interested in the town’s history or in hiking. A market held every year also shapes the town’s calendar.
Churches, the Amtshaus and the local history museum
The Kilianskirche was built in the 14th century as a successor to a wooden church. The Nikolaikirche, the second and larger church within the town, was built in 1597. The Amtshaus was built on the site of the former Merlinsburg between 1752 and 1754. The construction history of these buildings therefore spans the Middle Ages to the 18th century.
The local history museum is now housed in the Merlinsburg building. The museum barn displays historic agricultural tools and scenes from rural life, including baking, milk processing and food storage. The section of the museum located in the castle is currently being renovated and is not open to visitors. One room in the gatehouse focuses on Johann Wolfgang Goethe, who stayed in Kaltennordheim in 1780 and 1782.
Two Rhön circular trails with different profiles
The Rhön Circular Trail Kaltennordheim 1 is 11.0 kilometres long and takes about four hours; it is rated easy to moderate. It starts, among other places, at Kaltennordheim Town Hall. The Rhön Circular Trail Kaltennordheim 2 also starts there and initially follows the Felda through the town. In places, it passes through the approximately 50-hectare Große Hardt nature reserve.
For planning your day, the first trail’s approximate duration provides a clear indication of how much time to allow. On the second trail, the route along the Felda and the section through the nature reserve define the described route. You can therefore choose between a hike with a stated distance, duration and difficulty level, and a trail whose notable landmarks are its route through the town and the protected area.
The Heiratsmarkt and a town tour
The “Heiratsmarkt” takes place every year at Whitsun; the date varies from year to year. The market was first held in 1563. In the 19th century, the market held at Whitsun developed into a folk festival in the Thuringian Rhön. If you would like to explore the town’s history through specific landmarks, you may be interested in the “Auf alten Spuren” (“On Old Trails”) town tour. It includes, among other places, the Kilianskirche, the historic old town and the surviving town wall. The tour is available on request.
Plan your stay around your interests
The two trails differ not only in name, but also in their described points of reference: Route 1 provides details of distance, duration and difficulty, while Route 2 initially follows the Felda and passes through the Große Hardt in places. When planning a town tour, also bear in mind that it is available on request. The Heiratsmarkt, meanwhile, takes place at Whitsun, though its date changes each year.
More places to explore in the Wartburgkreis
The wider Wartburgkreis travel region offers other distinct historical and natural attractions. More than 830 years old, Creuzburg is one of Germany’s larger Romanesque castle complexes, with a ring wall more than 340 metres in circumference enclosing an area of 7,400 square metres. Schloss Altenstein Park has around 20 kilometres of paths, including a 4.3-kilometre circular trail. These examples broaden the picture of Kaltennordheim with other aspects of the Wartburgkreis.
Discover more destinations: Dorndorf, Creuzburg, Dermbach, Wolfsburg-Unkeroda, Behringen, Zella, Nazza, Witzelroda
For the wider travel overview: Wartburg.
