Edermünde: Stele, Village History and Routes

Edermünde can be explored from a variety of perspectives: in Besse, the view from the “Centre of Germany” stele stretches across the Chattengau to the Söhre; in Haldorf, a shepherd’s house, a horse grave and a striking stone tell the story of the village. There is also a circular route along the Eder and Fulda rivers and an outdoor swimming pool in Holzhausen. This lets you choose between landscapes, culture and activity when planning your trip.

Besse: Views from the “Centre of Germany” Stele

At the edge of the Langenberge, on an idyllic meadow in Besse, stands the “Centre of Germany” stele. From here, the view extends across the Chattengau landscape to the Söhre. A basalt stele about three metres high marks the spot. It is clearly visible from a small rest area with a bench and information board. Together, the view and rest area provide a convenient landmark to help you plan your visit.

You can reach the stele via the Habichtswald Nature Park hiking car park on Röder Weg in Besse. The site combines a specific view of the landscape with a clear landmark for finding your way there.

Haldorf: Shepherd’s House, Horse Grave and Giant Stone

The shepherd’s house in Haldorf is home to a local history museum with a permanent exhibition of objects from village life. The building was constructed in 1726; the last shepherd lived there until his death in 1948. The building’s history and the exhibition offer two ways to explore the village’s past: you can learn about the house’s former use as well as objects from everyday village life. The cultural programme also includes exhibitions of paintings, ceramics and glass art.

Another historical record is the Haldorf horse grave. It lies above Wolfershausen in the woodland of Haldorf’s municipal area. The weathered inscription reads: “Here lie Bella and Rosa, 13 February 1868”. The horse grave is accessible via the Ederhöhenweg; from Haldorf, head towards Wolfershausen, near Amselhof.

The Haldorf Giant Stone is also located nearby. It is made of quartzite, which is not found in the immediate area. Since explanations for how it could have been transported naturally have proved unsuccessful, it is thought to be a menhir. If you are interested in how unusual stones are interpreted, this is an opportunity to distinguish the material from a cautious interpretation.

A circular tour and swimming pool as further travel ideas

The “Town, Country, River” circular tour runs from Edermünde to Kassel and back, following the Eder and Fulda rivers. It starts at Edermünde-Grifte railway station and follows the Eder cycle path towards Guntershausen. The route takes in typical North Hessian half-timbered villages, farm shops and small, cosy inns. This makes the tour a way to focus on riverside landscapes and places along the way.

Another option is the outdoor swimming pool in Holzhausen, a district of Edermünde, with its solar-heated pool. Together with the viewpoint, local history and circular tour, it adds to the range of themes you can use to shape your travel plans.

A broader perspective: the wider destination of Schwalm-Eder District

Schwalm-Eder District encompasses the upland landscapes around Knüll, Kellerwald and Habichtswald. The cultural offerings in this wider destination also have their own focus. The Malerstübchen Museum in Willingshausen presents 19th- and 20th-century art history; on display are paintings featuring traditional Schwalm costume, as well as traditional Schwalm crafts such as whitework embroidery, knitting and spinning. Expert-led tours include talks on the artists’ colony and its artists, Schwalm customs and traditional crafts.

At the Schwalm Museum in Schwalmstadt-Ziegenhain, a reconstructed pottery workshop showcases the ceramics and pottery traditionally used in the region. A large model of Ziegenhain Water Fortress illustrates its condition in 1761, following the bombardment during the Seven Years’ War. The Schwalm Cycle Route is also described as an independent cycling route within this wider destination: it is around 100 kilometres long and leads to the Schwalm’s confluence with the Eder just before Felsberg. For most of its length, it follows paved or surfaced paths through riverside landscapes of meadows, fields, villages and half-timbered towns. In Schwalm-Eder District, art, crafts and a longer cycling route are therefore further themes to explore.

Discover more places

For further travel planning, you can also visit the pages for Grifte and Haldorf.

Discover more destinations: Fritzlar, Bad Zwesten, Willingshausen, Jesberg, Gilserberg, Ottrau.

View the wider travel overview: Schwalm-Eder District.