Hohenroda Between Nature and History

A basalt summit, prehistoric burial mounds and cultural landmarks along a cycling route offer different ways to explore the landscape and history of Hohenroda. You can plan your stay around viewpoints, hiking, cycling or individual historical sites. When looking for accommodation, it is worth first considering which of these aspects you want your trip to focus on.

Views and Nature on Landecker Berg

Soisberg is a basalt cone rising above limestone. The 24.96-metre-high Soisberg Tower invites you to climb to the top; in clear weather, the view extends towards the Rhön and Wasserkuppe. Check the current access conditions for the tower before your visit.

At Schwärzelsberg, a former limestone quarry offers wide-ranging views over the villages of the Landecker Amt. Landecker Berg has well-maintained hiking trails; it is also a nature reserve for native orchids, with 18 species found there. The views from Schwärzelsberg and the orchids on Landecker Berg offer different highlights: wide-open views of the landscape here, native plant life there.

Archaeological Traces and Local History

Twenty burial mounds can be made out as low mounds in Hohenroda. They date from 1200 to 1600 BC. Rather than appearing as towering monuments, they form a series of low rises in the terrain.

The Grasburg is another historical trace: a long system of ramparts and ditches has been preserved in the forest. An excavation in 1976 identified the wall as a post-hole wall dating to around 800 AD. The dates of the burial mounds and the archaeological classification of the Grasburg thus point to different periods.

Schloss Hohenroda comprises the Hohenroda estate and an associated castle set in a park. In Mansbach, Geyso Castle can only be viewed from the outside. The local history room in the annex is open to the public; check its opening arrangements before your visit.

Hiking, Cycling and Outdoor Breaks

Ransbacher Hütte is a place to take a break during or after a hike. At Steinerne Kreuz, a shelter and memorial stone provide a place to rest during a short walk. This gives you the choice of a break as part of a hike or a shorter walk with a resting point.

The 21-kilometre Hohenroda Cycle Route offers panoramic views of the Northern Rhön Biosphere Reserve and wooded volcanic hills. Half-timbered architecture and the village churches in Mansbach and Ausbach are cultural landmarks along the route.

The Green Belt also features in the area’s cycling and landscape themes: the former border villages of Glaam, Oberbreitzbach and Mansbach are part of it. The R15 cycle route from Mansbach to Wenigentaft in Thuringia crosses the Green Belt. Check the current route before setting out.

Sandloch in Oberbreitzbach is a barbecue area with a shelter. The site of a former sandstone quarry includes a pond and rocky cliffs; check local access arrangements in advance. With its fishponds, the Breitzbachtal offers a setting for walks and relaxation and extends in the direction of Glaam.

To plan your day, compare the different types of outing: Soisberg Tower is a single viewpoint, Steinerne Kreuz offers a short walk with a rest, while the Hohenroda Cycle Route is 21 kilometres long and links cultural landmarks along the way. If you are planning together, you can decide on your preferred pace and priorities for the day before looking for accommodation.

Discover more destinations: Friedewald, Ludwigsau, Heringen, Nentershausen, Cornberg, Niederaula, Bad Hersfeld, Breitenbach Am Herzberg.

For the regional travel overview: Hersfeld-Rotenburg.