Discover Hümpfershausen

Hümpfershausen is part of the Thuringian Rhön and offers a specific point of connection to local history and excursions on Hahnberg. The Berghäuschen is located on the 652-metre-high Hahnberg. It was built and used as a ducal hunting lodge. Following extensive construction work since the 1990s, it quickly developed into a special destination for excursions. The same building thus brings together its former use and more recent structural developments.

Berghäuschen: History and discoveries

The Berghäuschen near Hümpfershausen features a small shepherd’s wagon, sheep seesaws, a photo wall and interactive learning boards featuring the voices of the Rhön. They were installed as part of a project that ran from July 2023 to February 2024. Playful motifs, images and Rhön-related audio topics complement the history of the former hunting lodge with different ways to engage. For planning a trip with children, this combination of different interests offers a point of its own: architectural history and nature topics sit side by side.

Play, trails and seasonal refreshments

Hümpfershausen also has a public children’s playground. It adds another leisure option located explicitly in the village to the nearby excursion destination. The Vorderrhön Trail is also connected with Hümpfershausen, giving excursion plans a hiking option. Refreshments at the Berghäuschen are available on Sundays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. from May to October. Check these seasonal opening times before your visit.

Wasungen: Gardens, trails and culture

Wasungen offers a distinct natural attraction in its Forest Botanical Garden. Across about five hectares, it is home to 162 genera of woody plants, comprising 1,700 different species and varieties. Expert-led tours are available for a fee and by prior arrangement. For plant enthusiasts, this means a specific sense of scale and the opportunity to get to know the garden better on a guided tour.

Wasungen’s hiking trails vary by destination: Circular Trail 1 loops around the Forest Botanical Garden, Circular Trail 2 around the Rupperg to the Kleine Zehn Buchen, and Route 3 through the Mordtal valley to the Oberwallbachsmühle. A section of the Heinrich Cotta Hiking Trail leads from the garden to Heinrich Cotta’s birthplace in Kleine Zillbach. The 96 km long-distance hiking trail HWO2 connects Wasungen with Schlitz. For cycling, the Werratal Cycle Path runs along the left bank of the Werra through Wasungen.

Wasungen’s culture offers its own points of interest, too: the historic town centre is protected as an ensemble and designated as a protected area. The historic parade is the highlight of the Wasungen Carnival, taking place each year on the Saturday before Ash Wednesday. Its date therefore depends on the carnival calendar.

When comparing accommodation, first consider what you want to focus on: Hümpfershausen, with the nearby Berghäuschen on Hahnberg and the public playground, or Wasungen, with its garden, hiking trails and culture. Base your search on the mix of topics you want, then compare specific accommodation options in the destination that suits you.

Discover more destinations: Wasungen, Breitungen/Werra, Oberhof, Obermaßfeld-Grimmenthal, Rotterode, Christes, Springstille, Vachdorf.

For the broader travel overview: Schmalkalden-Meiningen.