Oberheldrungen: St. Boniface and Stone Cross

Oberheldrungen brings together the architectural history of St. Boniface, a stone cross on the northern edge of town and a circular tour that reaches the town via numbered junctions. The church, monument and trail offer different points of interest: sacred architecture, a cross at a crossroads and a tour with two possible starting points.

St. Boniface: Architectural History and Features

St. Boniface was built in 1716 as a hall church using natural stone. The massive east tower is medieval in origin, bringing together different historical periods at the church. The furnishings also add to the picture of the building: the Baroque pulpit altar has Corinthian columns, and its altarpiece, dating from around 1800, depicts Jesus and the Samaritan woman. A sacristy was added to the church in 1830.

A plastered barrel vault spans the nave, while a gallery on three sides shapes the interior. The organ, built by Friedrich Gerhardt in the second half of the 19th century, is also part of the building’s history. Those interested in architecture can consider several aspects together: the tower’s medieval core, the construction of the church in the 18th century, the sacristy and the later organ. The altarpiece, vault and gallery add their own decorative touches.

Stone Cross and Circular Tour

Another historical point of interest lies on the northern edge of town: the stone cross stands at a crossroads. This clearly distinguishes it from the church, a building with several described architectural and decorative features. Thus, two different themes sit side by side as you explore the town: the history of a sacred building and a monument at a specific point along a route.

The circular tour to Oberheldrungen has two alternative starting points: Heldrungen railway station or the hiking car park in Braunsroda. It passes junctions 5 and 9 on the way to Oberheldrungen, where junction 10 is located. Choosing your starting point is a practical consideration; both options lead to the town via the junctions listed above. Check current route conditions before setting out.

More Places of Interest in the Wider Kyffhäuser District

In the wider travel destination of the Kyffhäuser district, Barbarossa Cave lies between the districts of Rottleben and Steinthaleben in the municipality of Kyffhäuserland. It is an anhydrite cave. Five miners discovered it in 1865 in connection with the resumption of copper shale mining. The cave was named after the legend of Emperor Frederick I Barbarossa’s return. Geology, mining history and the Barbarossa legend come together here in a theme distinct from Oberheldrungen’s local history.

The Sondershausen Adventure Mine offers year-round guided tours at a depth of 670 metres. These include an approximately two-hour truck tour through the underground labyrinth. The mine is also home to the world’s deepest concert hall, where concerts and cabaret events are held regularly. The tours and events offer different ways to explore the underground mine.

In Westgreußen, the Funkenburg Archaeological Open-Air Museum features a reconstruction of a Germanic settlement that is unique in Germany. It stands on a prominent hill spur above the Helbe Valley. The museum’s educational activities include pottery-making, baking, wool processing, fishing-net knotting and archery. Thus, alongside cave and mining themes, the Kyffhäuser district also offers archaeological reconstruction and hands-on activities.

Different Hiking Themes

The trails in the wider Kyffhäuser district also vary in scale. The Kyffhäuser Trail is a 37-kilometre circular route that starts and ends in Bad Frankenhausen. Its three stages lead from Bad Frankenhausen to Barbarossa Cave, from there to the Kyffhäuser Monument, and then back to Bad Frankenhausen. The trail is certified as a “Wanderbares Deutschland” quality trail, is well signposted and is regularly checked for defects.

The Forest Adventure Trail is four kilometres long, runs between the Rothenburg castle ruins and the Kyffhäuser Monument, and has ten activity stations. Its length and number of stations give it a different scope from the 37-kilometre Kyffhäuser Trail. If you are planning around different interests, you can weigh up local history, tours and the other themes in the Kyffhäuser district separately.

Discover more destinations: Helbedündorf, Ebeleben, Greußen, Heldrungen, Gorsleben, Westgreußen, Oldisleben, Nausitz.

View the wider travel overview: Kyffhäuser district.