Discover Hildburghausen District

Hildburghausen District is an important part of the Thuringian Forest recreation region. A continuous forest area within Thuringian Forest Nature Park lies in the district; the Vessertal Biosphere Reserve also shapes its landscape. The region is also home to museums and trails with a variety of focuses.

Experience forests, meadows and landscapes

At the Rodach floodplain’s Hutelandschaft, the roof of the observation shelter offers panoramic views across the meadows. Konik horses and Heck cattle also help foster the development of a natural landscape there. This combines views across the Rodach floodplain with a tangible impression of how the landscape is being shaped. Visitors who enjoy combining nature watching with learning about landscapes will find a special point of interest here.

The forest area in Thuringian Forest Nature Park and the Vessertal Biosphere Reserve also give the region a strong connection to nature. When choosing the focus of your trip, it is worth considering the different options: the Rodach floodplain offers meadows and wildlife observation, while the district’s trails put outdoor activity centre stage. These different interests can help you plan without having to commit to just one kind of holiday.

Museums and history from the Middle Ages to the 20th century

Hennebergisches Museum Kloster Veßra is a six-hectare open-air museum with four themed areas. They cover the history of the monastery, half-timbered architecture and everyday life in the Henneberg region, as well as agricultural technology and sustainability. The topics thus range from historic buildings and ways of life to agriculture and sustainability.

At Veste Heldburg, the German Castle Museum presents the history and culture of castles in Europe from the Middle Ages to the present day. Its permanent exhibition is arranged as a tour through the entire fortress. Visitors can discover how castle construction changed from one era to the next and learn about Veste Heldburg. Those interested in architecture can compare this exhibition tour with the half-timbered architecture and monastery themes at Kloster Veßra: each focuses on different historic building styles and their respective contexts.

In Hildburghausen, the surviving palace garden was laid out as a Baroque garden around 1700 and transformed into a landscape park around 1780. The history of the counts’ family and the castle plays an important role at the Natural History Museum in the residence palace of the Counts of Henneberg. The Natural History Museum includes a vaulted room with a suit of armour, two-handed swords and large-scale Secco wall paintings depicting the story of Hercules, dating from around 1600.

The Rodachtal Two-Countries Museum opened in November 2009. It takes visitors on a journey through the 20th century in the Rodachtal border region. Together with the exhibitions on the castle, monastery and palace garden, it offers a broad view of different historical periods and subjects in the district.

Explore on foot, by bike or in winter

The approximately 7 km-long Mill Hiking Trail in the municipality of Straufhain passes through an area where nine grain and sawmills once operated. Information boards at the former mill sites provide details about the facilities. The approximate trail length and information about the former mills give the route a clear focus: it combines hiking with the history of former mill sites.

You can hike and cycle in the Werra Valley. In the district, the Werra Valley Cycle Route follows the Werra floodplains and is especially popular for cycling downstream. From Themar downstream, you can also go paddling on the Werra. The activities differ in both viewpoint and mode of transport: on foot, by bike or on the water. This makes the routes a useful guide if you would like a more active stay.

For winter sports enthusiasts, the municipality of Masserberg, including the districts of Heubach, Schnett and Fehrenbach, has more than 70 km of cross-country ski trails as well as numerous ski touring trails. Trail lengths and grooming may vary by season, so bear this in mind when planning. If winter activities are your priority, you can consider these options alongside the hiking, cycling and water routes.

Choose the right focus for your trip

Whether you mainly want to visit museums, experience the landscape or enjoy outdoor activities, Hildburghausen District offers a variety of options. You can choose the focus of your stay based on the experiences that matter most to you.

Discover more places in the district

Discover more destinations: Auengrund, Fehrenbach, Gießübel, Goldlauter, Nahetal-Waldau, Masserberg, Sankt Kilian, Schleusingen, Schnett, Suhl, Themar, Schleusingerneundorf, Hildburghausen, Henfstädt, Erlau, Eisfeld, Langenbach, Schleusegrund, Ehrenberg, Lichtenau, Veilsdorf, Sachsenbrunn, Heubach, Straufhain, Biberschlag, Reurieth, Heldburger Unterland, Römhild, Oberstadt, Bischofrod and Ummerstadt.

See the broader travel overview: Thuringia.