Discover Hohenroda: Views, nature and history

There are several ways to plan a stay in Hohenroda: viewpoints, trails through the countryside and historic traces. Destinations range from a former quarry to archaeological sites and cultural landmarks.

Views and geological features

At Schwärzelsberg, a former limestone quarry offers sweeping views over the villages of the Landecker Amt. Soisberg features a distinctive geological formation: a basalt cone over limestone. The 24.96-metre-high Soisberg Tower invites visitors to climb to the top. On a clear day, the view stretches towards the Rhön and Wasserkuppe. Check the tower’s access conditions before your visit.

Hiking and nature

Landecker Berg combines well-maintained hiking trails with a protected natural area: as a nature reserve, it preserves native orchids, with 18 species found here. Breitzbach Valley offers a place to hike and relax, with fishponds towards Glaam. For a break during a short walk, Steinerne Kreuz has a shelter and a memorial stone. Ransbacher Hütte is also a place to stop during or after a hike.

Cycling routes and cultural landmarks

The Hohenroda Cycle Route is 21 kilometres long and offers panoramic views of the Rhön Biosphere Reserve and forested volcanic peaks. Half-timbered architecture and the village churches in Mansbach and Ausbach are cultural landmarks along the route. Another cycling tour follows the R15 from Mansbach to Wenigentaft in Thuringia, crossing the Green Belt along the way. The former border villages of Glaam, Oberbreitzbach and Mansbach are also part of the Green Belt. Check current route conditions before setting out.

Archaeological traces

Twenty burial mounds can still be seen in Hohenroda as low rises in the ground. They date from 1200 to 1600 BC. In the forest, Grasburg can be made out as a long system of ramparts and ditches. An excavation in 1976 interpreted the wall as a timber-laced wall dating to around 800 AD. The two sites represent different periods and forms of archaeological traces: individual mounds in the landscape here, and an extensive earthwork there.

Castles and other places to visit

The Schloss Hohenroda complex comprises Gut Hohenroda and an associated castle set in a park. Geyso Castle in Mansbach can only be viewed from the outside. Its annex houses the Heimatstube, which is open to the public; check current opening hours before visiting.

Sandloch in Oberbreitzbach is a barbecue area with a shelter. A pond and rocky cliffs define this spot in a former sandstone quarry. Check local access conditions before visiting. This lets you tailor your stay to your interests, whether landscape and outdoor activities, archaeological remains or historic buildings.

Discover more destinations: Bebra, Philippsthal, Neuenstein, Friedewald, Ludwigsau, Bad Hersfeld, Wildeck, Heringen

See the overview of the wider travel region: Hersfeld-Rotenburg.