Discover Ummerstadt: Half-timbered houses, fountains and history

Ummerstadt combines a protected historic townscape with tangible traces of its history: five fountains, a church with a predecessor dating back to 1632, and a round-arched bridge from the 16th century. Pottery and tiles once shaped the local economy, too; beer is brewed at the brewery twice a year. The playground is a place to visit for families and children.

Half-timbered houses and architectural history in Ummerstadt

Ummerstadt’s entire town centre is protected as a historic monument. Numerous half-timbered houses define this area. The townscape invites visitors to take in the historic ensemble as well as its individual buildings. Those interested in architecture will find plenty to explore, from half-timbered houses to the town church.

St Bartholomew’s Town Church on Viehmarkt replaced a predecessor church that burned down in 1632; its tower survived. The round-arched bridge over the Rodach dates from the 16th century. The two buildings tell different stories of Ummerstadt’s past: the church recalls a historic turning point and a surviving structural feature, while the bridge represents a river crossing from a different period of construction.

Fountains, crafts and brewing

The five fountains in Ummerstadt are fed by local springs. This detail complements the town’s half-timbered houses and historic buildings with a glimpse of its local water supply. The fountains thus offer a distinct perspective on what makes Ummerstadt special.

From the 18th century onwards, pottery-making developed into Ummerstadt’s most important industry. After the end of the Second World War, the production of earthenware and tiles there came to an end. This helps put a defining period in the town’s history into context. The Ummerstadt brewery is another feature, brewing beer twice a year. Together, these show two different sides of local production: the historic pottery trade and brewing at the brewery.

The playground is another place to visit for families and children. When planning a trip, this offers a practical family-friendly aspect to consider alongside Ummerstadt’s townscape and history.

More to explore in Hildburghausen district

Hildburghausen district offers another perspective on nature and landscape. The district is an important part of the Thuringian Forest recreation region; its landscape also includes an extensive, continuous forest area in Thuringian Forest Nature Park and the Vessertal Biosphere Reserve. At the Rodachaue pasture landscape, panoramic views from the roof of the observation platform stretch across the meadows. Konik horses and Heck cattle contribute to the development of a near-natural landscape there.

A hiking trail offers a different focus, too: the Mühlenwanderweg (Mill Trail) in the municipality of Straufhain is about 7 km long. It passes through an area where nine grain and sawmills once operated; information boards at the former mill sites provide details about the facilities.

Culture lovers will find other distinctive attractions in Hildburghausen district. The Hennebergisches Museum Kloster Veßra is a 6-hectare open-air museum with four themed areas: monastery history; the half-timbered architecture and everyday history of the Henneberg region; and 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 takes visitors on a tour through the entire fortress. Along the way, visitors learn how castle construction changed from one era to the next and discover Veste Heldburg.

When looking for accommodation, the kind of trip you have in mind is a helpful starting point: would you like Ummerstadt’s townscape and history to be the main focus, or would you also like to include nature and culture in Hildburghausen district? Choosing a focus makes it easier to tailor your search to your travel interests.

Discover more destinations: Heubach, Ehrenberg, Hildburghausen, Römhild, Henfstädt, Veilsdorf, Langenbach, Reurieth.

Back to the regional travel overview: Hildburghausen-Suhl.