Auengrund: Forest Trails and Local History

Auengrund combines natural trails through extensive forests with stories from its villages. You can plan your stay around different interests, such as exploring the landscape, following the nature park trail around Crock or discovering historic traces.

Forests and Trails Around Auengrund

In Auengrund, natural hiking trails through extensive forests invite you to hike and cycle. One specific route is the 7.5-kilometre “Crocker Kesseltal” nature park trail. It follows a steady series of ups and downs, covering around 200 metres of elevation, around Crock and through a varied natural landscape on the southern slope of the Thuringian Forest. The distance and elevation gain give you a practical basis for planning your day. Check current trail conditions before setting out.

Wiedersbach’s landscape is also shaped by its location: the village lies in the valley of the stream of the same name, is surrounded by mountains and is situated in the Hildburghäuser Wald landscape conservation area. The Elsterbachtal and Dinkelshaak nature reserves, the Wiedersbach moors and the Ratscher Reservoir surround Wiedersbach. The stream, mountains, protected areas and reservoir thus create different facets of the local landscape.

Local History and Traditional Stories

In Wiedersbach, a part of the village’s history that can be dated with certainty goes back to 1601: the church tower dates from that year. A landwehr was built in the Poppenwind district; it was formerly also called “Lampr”. Both names offer starting points for exploring the history of individual villages and their landscapes.

Oral legends are associated with the Vogelherd near Poppenwind. A castrum or a Henneberg castle is said to have stood on the hill before the village was settled. The tradition leaves both historical interpretations open and remains part of local folklore to this day. Alongside datable structures, there are also stories whose significance lies in their passing down through generations.

The history of Crock offers another perspective on local leisure and cultural life. In the 1970s, local associations took the initiative to build a swimming pool and an open-air stage there, offering cultural and leisure activities. This initiative connects two different themes in the village’s history: recreation by the water and events under the open sky.

Schwarzbach has a karting track described as the largest outdoor karting track in southern Thuringia. If the track is relevant to your plans, check in advance whether it is currently accessible. This distinguishes this leisure option from the hiking and historical attractions, without limiting your stay to just one type of holiday.

The Wider Area: Hildburghausen District

Beyond Auengrund, Hildburghausen District also offers its own natural and cultural attractions. The district includes an extensive contiguous forest area in the Thuringian Forest Nature Park and is also shaped by the Vessertal Biosphere Reserve, among other things. The six-hectare Hennebergisches Museum Kloster Veßra is located in the district. Its four thematic areas cover the history of the monastery, half-timbered architecture and everyday life in the Henneberg region, as well as agricultural technology and sustainability.

The German Castle Museum at Veste Heldburg presents the history and culture of castles in Europe from the Middle Ages to the present day. Its permanent exhibition is designed as a tour through the entire fortress and explores how castle architecture changed from one era to the next. Together with Auengrund’s natural and local histories, this broader perspective on the district offers more ways to shape your trip around your interests.

Discover more destinations: Wiedersbach, Schwarzbach, Brattendorf, Sachsenbrunn, Erlau, Fehrenbach, Goldlauter, Masserberg.

For the broader travel overview: Hildburghausen-Suhl.