Sallmannshausen: Werra, Weir and Rennsteig

Sallmannshausen lies on the right bank of the Werra, right at the foot of the “Böller”. The village combines its connection to the river with the start of the Sallmannshausen Rennsteig and a preserved weir. The hiking trail, the Werra and the history of hydropower offer different ways to shape your stay.

A marked trail starts in the village

The Sallmannshausen Rennsteig starts in Sallmannshausen. The route is marked with an “S” and clearly signposted; rest stops are spaced along the trail. The markings, signposting and rest stops provide practical guidance if you would like to plan your stay around a hiking route.

The weir and the Schwettrich are considered worthwhile destinations. They offer a different focus from the Rennsteig: these named destinations in Sallmannshausen complement the connection to the route. When planning, you can decide whether the trail or the destinations are of greater interest to you.

Traces of hydropower

Around 1890, the Voigt family acquired the Werramühle and had the stone weir built. In 1913, a turbine replaced the waterwheel at the Werramühle on the right bank of the Werra. It generated electricity until the mid-1940s. The story thus runs from the construction of the stone weir to the later generation of electricity at the mill.

Sallmannshausen is also home to an old weir, originally built to harness hydropower. Together with the story of the mill and turbine, it makes hydropower a defining theme in the village’s history. For travellers interested in the history of technology, specific historical sites take centre stage.

Cultural history in the wider destination of Gerstungen

The wider destination of Gerstungen also offers its own cultural focus: the Werra Valley Museum is housed in the rooms of the old official residence castle in Gerstungen. Its permanent exhibition spans two floors and presents regional history as well as the everyday lives of former residents.

The subjects on display include natural history and the formation of the Werra landscape. The museum exhibits silicified wood and fossils from the river floodplain; photographs and information panels explain how the Werra landscape formed. Numerous Neolithic tools and finds from Iron Age settlement sites add to this insight. These include pottery, urns and jewellery.

Crafts and everyday life are also represented: items on display include guild chests, guild and craft books from the 17th century, as well as handcrafted goods and tools. Recreated utility rooms, a barn, a kitchen and a living room extend the exhibition with examples of rural spaces.

The Werra Valley Museum’s collection also includes an extensive collection of Werra pottery. It comprises colourful rural pottery made in the region. Alongside the local destinations in Sallmannshausen, regional pottery and the history of crafts are therefore another interest to explore in the wider destination of Gerstungen.

Choose your stay based on your interests

This way, your choice of where to stay is guided by the experiences you actually want to include.

For the wider travel overview: Gerstungen.