Neudietendorf: Orchard Meadow, Apfelstädt and History

Neudietendorf combines an orchard meadow on Kirchberg that has been cultivated for centuries with the history of the Bohemian Brethren. Nature and culture thus offer two distinct ways to experience the town.

Landscape along the Apfelstädt and the Drei Gleichen

Neudietendorf lies in the Apfelstädt valley on the southern edge of the Thuringian Basin. In the town, the Weidbach, which flows from Sülzenbrücken, joins the Apfelstädt; it rises in Mühlberg. Neudietendorf is the cultural and geographical centre of the municipality of Nesse-Apfelstädt. From here, you can look southwest towards the Drei Gleichen, a group of castles that gives the area its name. The riverside location and the view towards the castles provide distinct points of reference for the landscape and character of the town.

Orchard meadow on Kirchberg

The “Kirchberg” orchard meadow was established in 1724 and has been cultivated ever since. Orchard meadows combine fruit trees with meadowland; this area is a habitat for numerous animal and plant species, including some that are seriously endangered. It therefore offers a tangible connection with nature alongside the town’s religious and architectural heritage. For example, the local conservation group offers guided tours for families and children. If you would like to include a guided tour in your travel plans, ask the organiser for specific dates.

The 5th Neudietendorf Orchard Meadow Day is scheduled for Saturday, 10 October 2026, from 12 noon to 5 pm at Krügerpark, Bergstraße 9. If you would like to plan your trip around this date, check the event details in advance.

History of the Bohemian Brethren

In 1742, members of the “Bohemian Brethren” acquired an old manor house and its associated settlement on the banks of the Apfelstädt from Count Gotter. Ten families settled there and wanted to live according to the Herrnhut model. Disagreements with the Lutheran rulers led to the early community being disbanded several times. Thus, their vision of a shared way of life stood in clear contrast to the repeated conflicts. First, choir houses—homes for unmarried brothers and sisters—were built; the church hall and other buildings followed later.

Church Hall and God’s Acre

The church hall’s foundation stone was laid on 6 April 1779, and it was consecrated on 2 December 1780. The laying of the foundation stone and the consecration mark two distinct stages in the building’s history.

The cemetery, also known as God’s Acre, has a simple design. The uniform horizontal gravestones bear only the deceased person’s name, their dates of birth and death, and a verse. The oldest grave dates from 1743, 36 years before the church hall’s foundation stone was laid. On Easter Sunday, the Easter liturgy is celebrated at sunrise at God’s Acre. The gravestones bear individual life dates and verses; alongside these simple memorials, the Easter liturgy is a religious service held at the same place on Easter Sunday at sunrise.

Discover more destinations: Waltershausen, Wandersleben, Mühlberg, Hohenkirchen, Emsetal, Tonna, Tambach-Dietharz, Seebergen.

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