Am Ohmberg: Forest Landscapes, Hiking Trails and Castle Museum

Großbodungen, a district of Am Ohmberg, lies in the Bode valley. Extensive mixed forests stretch across the northern part of the municipal area, at elevations between 250 and 400 metres above sea level. The valley and wooded heights give the area different landscape features. Together with the Museum of Großbodungen Castle, they offer a choice between nature and the history of collections for you to consider when planning your trip.

Hiking Trails and Views

Four circular hiking trails cross the Großbodungen municipal area, connecting to long-distance and regional hiking trails. Circular Trail 1 is named the “Carl Duval Memorial Trail” and passes Lindsberg. From there, you can look out over Großbodungen. The plateau of Hasenburg also offers views of the surrounding villages and the Harz Mountains. If you are planning a hike, check the current route and conditions beforehand.

Castle Museum and Market History

The Museum of Großbodungen Castle displays fossils, minerals and medieval tools. Castle owner Roman Wolf has been assembling this collection since childhood. The exhibits bring together natural finds and objects from the Middle Ages. The museum can be visited by appointment only; check current booking arrangements with the operator.

The history of the market also offers a glimpse into Großbodungen’s past. The town was granted market rights in 1664; at that time, three general-goods and livestock markets were held there each year. These are distinct from the goods markets that have been held regularly since the period of German reunification, with traders from all over Thuringia. Check the current dates before your trip.

Culture and Landscapes in the Eichsfeld

The Eichsfeld provides a broader regional setting, with castles, historic towns, expansive fields, natural monuments, and cycling and hiking trails. Historic half-timbered buildings and architectural highlights shape the townscapes of Dingelstädt, Duderstadt, Heilbad Heiligenstadt and Leinefelde-Worbis. These places offer different cultural impressions from across the Eichsfeld.

The Eichsfeld Museum in Heilbad Heiligenstadt is housed in the Baroque Jesuit College. Its three floors provide information on the history, culture, religious life and folklore of the Eichsfeld. It therefore has a different focus from the Museum of Großbodungen Castle: the latter centres on a collection of fossils, minerals and medieval tools, while the Eichsfeld Museum explores topics from across the region.

Another historic stop in the Eichsfeld is Bodenstein Castle. It was first documented in 1098 and stands on a spur of the Ohm Mountains. Regular guided tours cover the history of the castle’s former lords, the von Wintzingerode family; it is also possible to visit the small chapel with its baptismal angel. If you would like to plan a guided tour, check the dates beforehand.

The region also has attractions for hiking enthusiasts: the Dün and Iberg mountains around Heilbad Heiligenstadt offer good conditions for extended hikes on certified TOP hiking trails. In Dingelstädt, you can experience a very different tradition: every year on Easter Monday, the Steckenpferd-Reiten hobbyhorse ride takes place around St. Mary’s Church. Preschool children ride small wooden horses decorated with bells and colourful ribbons. These examples show different sides of the Eichsfeld without replacing the local themes of Großbodungen.

Discover more destinations: Bornhagen, Volkerode, Bodenrode-Westhausen, Schimberg, Schönhagen, Lindewerra, Marth, Hohengandern.

Go to the main travel overview: Eichsfeld.