Bernshausen between the Kutte and the HOCHRHÖNER

Bernshausen offers several distinct perspectives: the Protestant St. John’s Church of Bernshausen stands in the village, the Bernshäuser Kutte is at the edge of the village below the Stoffelskuppe, and the HOCHRHÖNER long-distance hiking trail runs directly through Bernshausen. The village’s church, the Erdfallsee and hiking therefore provide different focal points for planning a trip. When looking for accommodation in Bernshausen, you can first consider which of these themes you would like to shape your stay.

The Bernshäuser Kutte and its trails

The Bernshäuser Kutte is a sinkhole lake at the edge of the village. It is also considered the deepest sinkhole lake in southern Thuringia. Its location below the Stoffelskuppe places the lake specifically near Bernshausen; the superlative compares it with other places across the wider region. If you are interested in the landscape, you will find both a clearly named location and a feature associated with southern Thuringia.

A circular trail leads from the Kutte to the Salzunger Weg junction. The HOCHRHÖNER long-distance hiking trail also runs directly through Bernshausen. There are therefore different hiking options to choose from: a circular trail starting at the Kutte and a long-distance trail through the village. Trail routes and status can change; check the latest trail information before setting out.

A church in the village

The Protestant St. John’s Church of Bernshausen is another place of interest during a stay. It stands in Bernshausen and complements the landscape and hiking options with a cultural aspect. When planning for your travel group, you can consider nature, outdoor activities and local culture as distinct focal points without combining them into a single excursion program.

Culture and history in the wider destination of Dermbach

In the wider destination of Dermbach, the Museum of the Thuringian Rhön broadens the perspective on culture and history. It showcases traditional crafts such as weaving and carving, as well as historical tools, traditional costumes, furniture, agricultural equipment and handicrafts. Its main themes include the history of the Dermbach administrative district, the Peasants’ War in the Vorderrhön and cork processing in Dermbach. It also covers small industrial businesses along the Feldabahn, built as a narrow-gauge railway in 1880. Other topics include the legend of the Rhönpaulus and the 1866 battles between Prussia and Bavaria in the Dermbach area. The exhibits thus span everything from crafts and everyday objects to regional history.

The architecture also reflects different periods. The Protestant church on Kirchberg in Dermbach is dedicated to the Holy Trinity and was built in 1714 on the foundations of an earlier church in the Peasant Baroque style. Schloss Dermbach was built in 1707 by Adalbert von Schleifras, Prince-Abbot of Fulda; three unpretentious Baroque buildings enclose a spacious rectangular courtyard. Dermbach is also home to southern Thuringia’s smallest half-timbered church, dating from 1677. The Catholic parish office is located in a former Franciscan monastery built in 1730/31. The Old Cemetery is now a small park-like area.

Nature and route options in Dermbach

The Ibengarten, a yew forest, lies above the Dermbach district of Glattbach. The Rhönpaulus Forest Ibengarten Experience Trail offers a specific route comparison by starting point: the one-way route is seven kilometres from Dermbach and two kilometres from Glattbach. In either case, the return follows the same route down the Neuberg. The different one-way distances can help you adapt your plans to your chosen starting point.

Another nature-related attraction can be found in Neidhartshausen: for decades, the church attic there has been home to a maternity roost of the greater mouse-eared bat. The protected roost was included in the European Natura 2000 network as a Habitats Directive site in 2008. The Bat Trail leads from Neidhartshausen to Zella, a district of Dermbach. This adds topics such as local wildlife and nature conservation to the landscape and hiking options.

Whichever of these you choose to focus on will give your trip plans a clear direction.

Go to the wider travel overview: Urnshausen.