Discover Rhönblick

Discover Rhönblick through two distinctive features: the Herpftal valley with its bridges and the Church of the Holy Cross in Bettenhausen. The Herpf stream flows through the village, which lies on both sides of the waterway. Modern and historic bridges are both part of the village’s character. Bettenhausen lies at 350 metres above sea level in the Herpftal valley, south of the local mountain Geba. The landscape and architectural history thus stand side by side as distinct aspects of the village.

Church art with a history

The Church of the Holy Cross has a Baroque organ by Ernst Döring. Its features also include a Baroque pulpit altar and the organ case, decorated with figurative and floral motifs. A pulpit altar combines a pulpit and an altar; the organ case adds figurative and floral decoration. These details give the church a distinctive art-historical character.

The building’s history goes back further than the present structure: this was probably built between 1617 and 1619 over a Romanesque predecessor. For travellers interested in historic architecture, several periods come together here—from the Romanesque predecessor to the Baroque furnishings. The date passed down through tradition remains an estimate, not a confirmed year.

The Herpftal valley and bridges in the village landscape

In Bettenhausen, the stream and bridges together shape the village’s spatial character. The Herpf runs through the village, while historic and modern bridges connect its banks. Together with the valley setting and its elevation of 350 metres, these features create a clear picture of the landscape south of Geba. When planning a trip, visitors with a stronger interest in nature or culture can treat these local highlights as different starting points for their own explorations.

More attractions in the Schmalkalden-Meiningen destination

In the wider Schmalkalden-Meiningen destination, the Viba Nougat World in Schmalkalden offers a culinary highlight: in a glass-walled workshop, visitors can watch soft, melting nougat being made. Hands-on confectionery courses add to the experience, with participants pouring chocolate, decorating nougat and creating pralines. Course times and booking conditions may change, so it is advisable to check the latest information. The Viba Nougat World is just a few minutes’ walk from Schmalkalden bus and railway stations; check current connections before travelling.

The destination of Schmalkalden-Meiningen also has a rich industrial and craft heritage. The “Neue Hütte” blast furnace museum in Schmalkalden is based at a blast furnace facility dating from 1835. Local iron ore was smelted there using charcoal to produce pig iron until 1924. The exhibition covers the nearly 1,300-year development of iron and steel goods production in the Schmalkalden region, including the well-known “Schmalkalder Artikel.” A 45-minute guided tour explains the history and operation of the blast furnace. At the Metalworking Museum, original workshops show how nails, pliers and corkscrews have been made for centuries.

The scenic region of Schmalkalden-Meiningen district comprises four landscapes: the Thuringian Forest, the Rhön, the Werra Valley and the Grabfeld. Hiking options range from routes such as the Rennsteig to multi-day cycling tours on the Werra Valley Cycle Path. In the Breitunger Seen nature reserve, a 3.5-kilometre hiking trail passes seating areas. Water activities offer a different perspective: pedal boats and rowing boats can be rented at the Kiessee lake in Breitungen; stand-up paddleboarding is also available at Breitungen lido. Activities and availability may change.

Another destination in Schmalkalden-Meiningen is the Trusetal Waterfall. It plunges 60 metres over a granite formation in three cascades; visitors can climb 228 steps beside the waterfall. These varied examples illustrate the region’s range, with each experience offering a different focus.

For practical activities such as confectionery courses or boat hire, check the latest dates or availability in advance.

Discover more destinations: Oberhof, Breitungen/Werra, Brotterode health resort, Schwarza, Ellingshausen, Frankenheim/Rhön, Erbenhausen, Wernshausen.

Go to the overview of the wider destination: Schmalkalden-Meiningen.