Heringen (Werra): Werra Floodplains and Border Remembrance

The wetlands of the Werra floodplain, the Bodesruh Memorial and guided tours at Monte Kali give Heringen (Werra) a range of different points of interest: nature, remembrance and activities that need to be planned for a set time. There are also sweeping views from the observation tower and a cycle route that passes Heringen. For your stay, you can choose between nature, border history and an excursion planned around a specific time or route.

Wetlands in the Werra floodplain

Rohrlache is a large floodplain and wetland area close to the river in the Werra Valley, between Heringen and the districts of Leimbach and Widdershausen. Many bird species use it as a breeding and resting site and for foraging. Salt-tolerant plant species grow where saline water emerges. At Rohrlache, birdlife and plants adapted to saline sites are therefore two distinct aspects of the natural environment.

Säulingssee is a nature reserve. After being drained and cultivated for a time, it is developing once again into a wetland that is especially important for amphibians. Together, the Säulingssee and Rohrlache nature reserves near Widdershausen are important stepping stones in a chain of wetlands in the Werra floodplain. The comparison highlights two distinct features: Rohrlache provides a habitat for many bird species and salt-tolerant plants, while Säulingssee is notable for the development of its wetland and its importance for amphibians.

Waldradeberg and the Bodesruh Memorial

Waldradeberg was described as an abandoned settlement in 1331. Whether it was resettled later is uncertain; by 1579, the village site had finally been abandoned. Uncertainty about possible resettlement is as much a part of the place’s history as these two dates.

The Bodesruh Memorial commemorates the division of the region by the inner German border until 1989. Its observation tower offers sweeping views across the Gerstungen Basin and the Werra Valley as far as the Thuringian Forest. Here, the history of the border and wide-ranging views of the landscape come together.

Plan a guided tour or cycle route

From March to October, guided tours at Monte Kali are available on weekends: Saturdays at 12:30 and 15:00, Sundays at 10:00 and 12:30, and on Hessian public holidays at 10:00, 12:30 and 15:00. Advance booking is required. Tour schedules and booking details may change, so check with the operator before your visit.

For cyclists, the 52.6 km Ronshausen–Werra Valley–Seulingswald cycle route is another option. It starts at the Werra Potash Mining Museum and is one of the routes that pass Heringen. The town does not guarantee either the course of suggested routes or the quality of their surfaces. If you plan to cycle the route, check its course and surface quality in advance. The two options call for different kinds of planning: for the guided tour, consider the season, start time and advance booking; for the cycle route, the distance and course provide useful points of reference.

Choose accommodation based on the purpose of your trip

If you are looking for accommodation for your stay in Heringen, it helps to decide on the main purpose of your trip: nature reserves, border history, a guided tour with set times or cycling all call for different daily plans. For the Monte Kali tour, take the season, start time and advance booking into account; the 52.6 km cycle route offers a specific point of reference.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Kirchheim, Ludwigsau, Neuenstein, Ronshausen, Rotenburg, Bebra, Wildeck, Niederaula.

Back to the main travel guide: Hersfeld-Rotenburg.