Römhild: Castle History, Collections and Ceramics

Römhild brings together two very different cultural perspectives: Glücksburg Castle tells the story of the town and the castle, while the cemetery church makes its own impression with its architecture and historic furnishings. There is also an annual ceramics market and the forest swimming pool as another destination for an outing. This makes it possible to plan a stay around collections, architectural history and routes in the surrounding area.

Collections at the Glücksburg Castle Museum

The subjects at the Glücksburg Castle Museum range from antiquity to toys from great-grandmother’s time. The special collection of the Greek Mavrogordato family includes objects from Roman and Greek antiquity, as well as artist and character dolls from the first half of the 20th century. The Hönn Collection features tools used in rural crafts and agriculture in the region; the history of pottery in Römhild is particularly vividly presented there.

The permanent exhibition presents the history of the castle and the town, as well as outstanding personalities. The toy exhibition also includes dollhouses, prams, toy shops and wooden toys from great-grandmother’s time. Different perspectives on local history, regional crafts and the world of toys thus come together under one roof.

Events and opening hours

The annual program at the Glücksburg Castle Museum includes concerts, readings, lectures, film screenings, special exhibitions and educational activities. The individual events vary. The Thuringian Römhild Ceramics Market takes place every year on the third weekend in August in the courtyards of Glücksburg Castle. If the market is important to your travel plans, check the exact date in advance.

From April 1 to October 31, the museum is open Tuesday to Thursday from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. and from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.; last admission is at 3:30 p.m. On Sundays, it is open from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.; last admission is at 4:30 p.m. It is closed on Mondays, Fridays and Saturdays. From November 1 to March 31, visits are possible by appointment only. As visitor arrangements may change, check the hours with the museum before your visit.

Architecture and furnishings of the cemetery church

The cemetery church in Römhild was built from 1708 to 1712 on the orders of Duke Heinrich. Master builder Christian Richter used mostly materials from the demolished pleasure palace “Merzelbach”. Its understated exterior contrasts with an interior designed in the style of restrained late Renaissance.

Distinctive features include an altarpiece by court painter Dupree, showing Duke Heinrich and his wife kneeling before the Crucified Christ. The church also contains wooden memorial plaques and inscribed grave slabs made of sandstone and cast material. The church’s architectural history and furnishings make it a subject in its own right alongside the collections at the castle.

The forest swimming pool and routes in the surrounding area

The Römhild forest swimming pool is about 2 km from Römhild and was opened in 1936. It can be reached on foot or by bicycle via numerous cycling and hiking trails. A visit can be combined with hikes to the Großer and Kleiner Gleichberg, Dingsleben or Gleichamberg, as well as cycling tours through the Grabfeld, the Gleichberge and the Heldburger Unterland. Check the local route details if you are planning a specific tour.

A broader look at Hildburghausen district

Hildburghausen district is an important part of the Thuringian Forest recreation region. It includes an extensive, unbroken forest area in Thuringian Forest Nature Park; the district is also shaped, among other things, by Vessertal Biosphere Reserve. In the Rodachaue heathland landscape, the roof of the observation shelter offers panoramic views across the meadows. Konik horses and Heck cattle contribute to nature-oriented landscape development there.

The museums in the district also explore subjects different from those of the collections in Römhild. Hennebergisches Museum Kloster Veßra is a 6-hectare open-air museum with four themed areas: the history of the monastery, half-timbered architecture and everyday life in the Henneberg region, as well as agricultural technology and sustainability. The German Burgenmuseum at Veste Heldburg presents the history and culture of castles in Europe from the Middle Ages to the present day. Its permanent exhibition takes visitors through the entire fortress and shows how castle construction changed from one era to the next. Thus, Römhild focuses on the history of the castle and town, dolls and pottery, while Kloster Veßra and Veste Heldburg explore other cultural and historical subjects in the district.

Choose accommodation to suit your priorities

When looking for accommodation, it helps to first decide what you want to focus on during your stay: Römhild’s collections and cemetery church, the date of the ceramics market, or other attractions in Hildburghausen district. Choose the location you want based on the visits you are specifically planning.

Discover more destinations: Nahetal-Waldau, Eisfeld, Schnett, Bischofrod, Ummerstadt, Henfstädt, Lichtenau, Masserberg.

Back to the main travel overview: Hildburghausen-Suhl.