Martinfeld – Half-timbered houses, history and hiking trails

Martinfeld combines historic village architecture with religious buildings and a variety of hiking routes. Several half-timbered houses stand around a village green in the centre of the village; the Church of St Ursula and Her Companions contains historic furnishings. In the surrounding area, you can choose between a stage leading to a waterfall and a circular route.

Half-timbered houses and church art

Several historic half-timbered houses stand around a village green in the centre of Martinfeld. Their shared location provides a tangible architectural focal point in the historic village centre. If you are interested in village history, you will find more than just one historic building here: together, the houses around the village green shape the character of this part of Martinfeld.

The Church of St Ursula and Her Companions was built in 1723. It contains the central section of a Gothic altarpiece dating from 1510 and a baptismal font from 1600. The contrast in dates is particularly striking: the dated central section of the Gothic altarpiece and the baptismal font both predate the church building.

Klüschen Hagis, a small Catholic pilgrimage church between Wachstedt and Martinfeld near Dingelstädt, lies in the vicinity of Martinfeld. It is a separate religious landmark alongside the Church of St Ursula and Her Companions in the village.

Schloss Martinfeld and self-catering accommodation

Within the wider Schimberg travel destination, Schloss Martinfeld was built as a manor house in 1611. In Martinfeld, the castle also serves as self-catering accommodation for individual travellers, clubs, groups and organisations, including school classes and church retreats. As a conference venue, it is suitable for working groups, seminars, youth movement groups and other events.

This gives you a specific type of accommodation to consider: the offer also caters to groups wishing to prepare their own meals, and includes facilities for conferences and events. If you are planning a group trip or seminar, you can check whether the stated uses suit your plans. As operating details may change, check them with the operator before booking.

Another cultural and historical feature of the wider Schimberg travel destination is the Grabenmühle in Martinfeld: a surviving water-powered mill dating from the 16th century. This adds traces of milling history to the village’s history of half-timbered houses, church and castle.

Hiking trails with different route formats

The second stage of the Leine-Werra Nature Park Trail runs from the centre of Martinfeld to the waterfall in Großbartloff. Its two endpoints define a linear stage: it starts in the village and ends at the waterfall in Großbartloff.

Within the wider Schimberg travel destination, the TOP Westerwald Trail offers a circular alternative. It starts and ends at the hiking car park by the Landhaus Westerwald in Martinfeld. Along the way, it passes the Martinfelder Fenster and Ershäuser Fenster viewpoints, as well as bubbling streams such as the calcareous sinter springs in the Wagental.

When choosing between the two trails, the route format is the main consideration: the second stage runs from the village centre to a destination in Großbartloff, while the TOP Westerwald Trail returns to its starting point. You can therefore choose between a stage ending at a destination and a circular route. Check the current trail conditions for the TOP Westerwald Trail before setting out.

Discover more destinations

Am Ohmberg, Gernrode, Breitenworbis, Heilbad Heiligenstadt, Leinefelde-Worbis, Kirchworbis, Berlingerode, Bornhagen

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