Oberaula: Aulatal Valley, Hiking Trails and Cycling

Oberaula combines a landscape shaped by the Aulatal Valley with well-marked hiking trails, the Rotkäppchenland railway cycle path and historical and cultural landmarks. This makes it easy to plan a stay around different interests: on foot, by bike or exploring local and regional history.

Landscape between the Aulatal Valley and the Knüll Mountains

The Oberaula area is shaped by the Aulatal Valley and its side valleys. It is surrounded by the forested mountains of the Knüll range, which rise to 500–600 metres. At the same time, Oberaula lies in a valley basin surrounded by hilly, rocky landscapes. The area also includes three small streams: Garteröder Wasser, Ostern and Hauser.

Plan your hiking and cycling

Oberaula has a well-marked and signposted network of hiking trails. A wide range of maps supports individual route planning, and the network is suitable for both short stages and full-day hikes. The hiking landscape is characterised by gentle climbs, broad valleys, forests and views across the countryside. This means you can plan your route around the time available rather than committing to a particular hike length.

The Olberöder hiking trail in the municipality of Oberaula is an 8.6-kilometre circular route. It is easy to walk in either direction and does not place any special demands on personal fitness. There are numerous benches along the clearly marked trail. The municipality also has a reservoir pond with recreational facilities, a water-treading pool, a forest fitness trail and a picturesque barbecue area with a shelter.

The Rotkäppchenland railway cycle path passes through Oberaula and follows a former railway line. Its moderate gradients make it suitable for family-friendly cycling. If you would rather spend time together on bikes than on a longer hike, it offers a distinct focus for an active trip.

Local culture and the Schwalm-Eder district

The Jewish cemetery, with its valuable gravestones, lies at the edge of Oberaula on the road towards Kirchheim. It bears witness to the once large Jewish community. A restored organ is also among the town’s historical and cultural landmarks. Alongside the landscape and outdoor activities, these sites give the area’s history a place of its own in your travel plans.

The Schwalm-Eder district offers other distinctive cultural attractions. In Willingshausen, the Malerstübchen Museum explores 19th- and 20th-century art history and displays paintings featuring traditional Schwalm costumes. The museum also showcases traditional Schwalm crafts, including whitework embroidery, knitting and spinning. Guided by an expert, visitors can attend talks on the artists’ colony and its painters, Schwalm customs, crafts and whitework embroidery.

The Schwalm Museum in Schwalmstadt-Ziegenhain displays the ceramics and pottery used in the region in a reconstructed pottery workshop. A large model of Ziegenhain Water Fortress shows what it looked like in 1761, after it was shelled during the Seven Years’ War.

Choose accommodation to suit your trip

When looking for accommodation in Oberaula, deciding what you want to focus on is a practical first step: would you like your stay to revolve around short hikes or longer tours, family-friendly cycling or cultural discoveries? This helps you make a choice based on the experiences that matter most to you on your trip.

Discover more destinations: Olberode, Fritzlar, Jesberg, Felsberg, Edermünde, Ottrau, Borken, Homberg/Efze.

Back to the main travel overview: Schwalm-Eder district.