Hausen: Orchards and Hiking Trails

Hausen combines an extensive orchard landscape with nature and landscape conservation. The intact belt of orchards around the village is considered an ecological and cultural feature. Around 500 fruit trees are spread across the municipality. The entire municipal area lies within the Rhön Nature Park; a large part is in the Lange Rhön Nature Reserve. Hausen is also a model municipality of the Bavarian Rhön Biosphere Reserve. If you are looking for a hotel in Hausen, its orchard culture offers a concrete starting point for planning your trip: the education trail, preservation of fruit varieties, and seasonal fruit events shape the character of the village.

Discover the orchards along the education trail

The Hausen Orchard Education Trail runs in two loops that form a figure eight. Seven information boards explain the history of orchard cultivation, the orchard meadow as a habitat, the diversity of fruit varieties, and how the fruit is used and marketed. Along the trail, around 50 varieties, mostly old ones, are presented individually. In this way, the trail connects the landscape with specific topics related to cultivation and use.

In addition, 400 apple and pear varieties are cultivated as a gene bank in the variety conservation garden beside the orchard education trail. The trail and the garden have different focuses: the trail features explanations and individual varieties, while the garden is dedicated to preserving a wide diversity of varieties. The orchard education trail is marked with a solid red triangle and follows well-maintained, easy-to-walk paths. Hausen also offers well-marked paths for walks and hikes. You can therefore focus your stay either on orchard culture or on hiking.

Seasonal fruit events and products

Fruit from Hausen’s orchards is used fresh and is also available as juice, fruit brandy, liqueur, spread, or dried fruit. The Apple Market is a regular autumn event: it takes place on the third Sunday in October and offers a variety of apples. If you are planning your trip around a visit to the market, check the date of the specific event when making your plans.

In spring, old fruit varieties are also a major focus in Hausen. Scions of old varieties are sold at the scion exchange. The Hausen Orchard Working Group also offers pruning and grafting courses every April. The market, scion exchange, and courses appeal to different interests: the market focuses on apples and their diversity, while the spring events focus on propagating and caring for fruit trees. Check the relevant dates when planning your schedule.

Nature and culture in the wider destination

In the wider destination of Rhön-Grabfeld, the fortified church of Ostheim vor der Rhön adds a cultural history theme to the focus on nature and orchards. It was declared a monument of national importance in 2003 and is considered Germany’s largest and particularly well-preserved fortified church. A trip to Rhön-Grabfeld therefore offers a range of interests; orchard culture and hiking trails are the focus in Hausen.

Discover more destinations: Bastheim, Heustreu, Sulzfeld Im Grabfeld, Saal an der Saale, Mellrichstadt, Stockheim, Wollbach, Willmars.

View the wider travel overview: Rhön-Grabfeld.