The Feininger Tower stands on the southeastern edge of Mellingen and is based on Lyonel Feininger’s 1920 painting “The Church of Mellingen”. The connection between the painting and the art installation gives the town a distinctive point of reference in art history. The parish church and historic archaeological sites also tell of other periods. When planning your trip, it is also worth looking at Mellingen’s location in the central Ilm Valley and the different ways to get there.
Getting There and Where to Stay
Mellingen is located right by Junction 50 Apolda of the A4 motorway. The town is also served by rail: Mellingen has its own stop on the Weimar–Gera line. From there, the journey takes five minutes to Weimar, twelve to Jena, 29 to Erfurt and 54 to Gera. Mellingen can also be reached by PVG Weimarer Land bus routes 229, 253 and 255. Before travelling, check that the train timetables and bus services, including their schedules, are up to date.
For road travel, the adjacent B87 runs directly from Mellingen to Apolda in one direction and to Bad Berka and Blankenhain in the other. The L2161 connects the Weimarer Land district with the independent city of Weimar; from Mellingen, Weimar is easy to reach via this route. If you are considering Mellingen as a place to stay, you can compare the rail, bus and road connections with your own travel plans.
The Feininger Tower and Local History
The Feininger Tower, also known as “Double Motif”, was built in 1999 by Swiss artist and architect Marcel Kalberer. The art installation is dedicated to Lyonel Feininger and inspired by his painting style. Its point of reference is Feininger’s 1920 painting “The Church of Mellingen”. If you would like to combine art and cycling, consider the Feininger Cycle Route, which passes the tower.
The Mellingen parish church has a further story of historic construction. Its present form dates from 1669, when a medieval chancel tower church was adapted; the nave was renovated from 1724 to 1730. These construction phases give the church its own place in the timeline of local history.
The Ilm Valley, Archaeological Sites and Local Traditions
The Ilm and its floodplains shape Mellingen and today serve mainly as an area for recreation and leisure. The town’s history also includes sites of archaeological interest: the medieval Mellingen Castle, belonging to the Lords of Mellingen mentioned in 1137, lies on the B87 and is a protected archaeological site. Heinrichsburg lies southeast of Mellingen; evidence of settlement there dates from the Middle and Late Stone Age. Thus, medieval local history and very early settlement history stand side by side as distinct historical themes.
The mayor’s office and local history room are housed in the Malzdarre. The building also plays a role in Mellingen’s festival traditions: the Kirmes is celebrated as a five-day festival; one week later, on Whit Sunday, a morning gathering with hearty music and substantial food prepared according to Thuringian purity rules is held at the Malzdarre. Mellingen’s spring Kirmes also includes the so-called Kritzekrebs Market. Exact programme details may vary, so check the dates before visiting.
Discover more destinations: Vollersroda, Bad Berka, Tonndorf, Kapellendorf, Possendorf, Niedertrebra, Ettersburg, Lehnstedt.
For the broader travel overview: Weimarer Land.
