Discover Hainrode/Hainleite

Hainrode/Hainleite invites you to discover local history through specific details: St. Mary Magdalene Church has a crypt, and Hainrode Castle is known by another name. Stamp boxes, a wildlife enclosure and a horse farm add to the local attractions. This lets you distinguish between the history of the church and buildings and other sights.

The crypt and the history of the castle

The crypt in St. Mary Magdalene Church measures 3.50 × 3.50 metres. It contains three bodies, which are presumed to be members of the Bila family. The dimensions are stated precisely, while the family connection is explicitly only a presumption. For families who enjoy exploring history through specific details, this distinction can prompt a conversation about historical certainty.

Hainrode Castle was originally built in the 12th century as a manor house with smaller outbuildings. Locals also call it Wöbelsburg. Its early architectural form offers a different perspective alongside the crypt’s burial history: here, the focus is on a manor house and its associated outbuildings. Those interested in architectural history can easily distinguish between these two local topics.

Stamp boxes and other sights

Hainrode has had two stamp boxes since 2022: one in Teichtal and one at Wöbelsburg. If you include the locations in your plans, check the condition of the boxes before your visit. Since all its uses were discontinued in 2020, Teichtal is no longer a local recreation area.

Hainrode’s sights also include the wildlife enclosure and the “Aktivstall” horse farm. So, alongside historic buildings and the church, there are other local attractions to choose from. When planning your trip, you can decide whether you are particularly interested in the history of the area or in its other named sights.

Culture in the wider destination of Bleicherode

In the wider destination of Bleicherode, the Church of Beatae Mariae Virginis houses the statue “Jacob Wrestling with the Angel.” It was created around 1710 and stands in a wall niche above the entrance to the sacristy. It depicts a scene from Genesis 32:25–27. The specific location and biblical subject offer art enthusiasts two points of interest: the artwork in its church setting and the story it depicts.

The organ in the Church of Beatae Mariae Virginis is also part of Bleicherode’s cultural history. Master organ builder Robert Knauf created it in the western part of the church. An extensive restoration in 2013 allowed the instrument to sound once again in its original 1898 condition. The statue and the organ have different points of focus: one presents a biblical scene in an image, while the other tells the story of the construction and restoration of an instrument.

The Alte Kanzlei in Bleicherode adds a building complex and several uses to these topics. These include a large half-timbered barn with a residential section and a coach house, which border the courtyard on its west and north sides. The Alte Kanzlei houses the town library, a music school and an exhibition on the history of Bleicherode’s Jewish community. Architecture, music and local history offer a range of interests here. If you plan to visit one of the institutions, check access arrangements in advance.

Discover more destinations: Werther, Hamma, Harzungen, Sülzhayn, Niedergebra, Auleben, Niedersachswerfen, Harztor.

Back to the wider travel overview: Nordhausen.