Discover Neukirchen

If you’re looking for a hotel in Neukirchen, you can plan your trip around local interests such as fairy tales, crafts, commemorative culture and seasonal activities. The historic market square offers points of interest for a cultural and historical stay; the Badewelt and summer taster courses in Kneipp therapy add to the picture.

Fairy-Tale House and Crafts at the Market Square

A thick, blond Rapunzel braid hangs from the upper floor of a small half-timbered house at the Fairy-Tale House on Neukirchen’s historic market square. The Fairy-Tale House features vividly staged fairy-tale scenes and treasures, some more than 150 years old. The Rapunzel connection and the scenes on display give the house a clear focus on fairy tales; the old treasures add historical objects to the collection. If you would like to listen to a storyteller or reader, this can be arranged by appointment. Check availability in advance.

The two neighboring buildings of the Local History Museum are behind St. Nicholas Church on the market square. They feature workshops representing more than ten trades. Together with the Fairy-Tale House, the market square thus offers different ways to explore local history: fairy-tale scenes on the one hand and skilled craftsmanship on the other. The Local History Museum presents a specific selection of different trades rather than focusing on a single craft.

Commemoration and Other Activities in Neukirchen

Since 2014, Stolpersteine memorial stones have been laid in Neukirchen each year in memory of Jewish families from the town who were stripped of their rights, expelled or murdered during the Nazi era. This commemorative focus adds the history of the persecution of Jewish families in Neukirchen to the museum and crafts themes. It offers a distinct focus for travelers who are also interested in a place’s culture of remembrance.

The indoor pool at Badewelt Neukirchen has a water temperature of 28°C in both the swimming pool and the children’s paddling pool. If the temperature is important for your plans, check the latest information before your visit. During the summer months, trained health consultants Silke and Holger Arndt offer taster courses in Kneipp therapy. As these courses are seasonal, it’s best to ask about current availability before your trip.

More to Explore in Schwalm-Eder District

The wider travel destination of Schwalm-Eder District includes the upland landscapes around Knüll, Kellerwald and Habichtswald. The district’s cultural offerings also cover a range of themes. The Malerstübchen Museum in Willingshausen presents 19th- and 20th-century art history and displays paintings featuring motifs from Schwalm traditional dress. It also showcases rural Schwalm crafts, including whitework embroidery, knitting and spinning. Guided by an expert, visitors can attend talks about the artists’ colony and its artists, Schwalm customs and crafts.

The Schwalm Museum in Schwalmstadt-Ziegenhain displays the region’s traditional ceramics and pottery in a reconstructed pottery workshop. A large model of Ziegenhain Water Fortress depicts its condition in 1761, after it was shelled during the Seven Years’ War. The Breitenau Memorial offers a different historical perspective: its permanent exhibition in the tithe barn commemorates events of the Nazi era. Its educational program includes guided tours, walks, lectures and readings. These examples from Schwalm-Eder District range from art and crafts to various forms of historical interpretation.

The Schwalm-Eder District also offers routes of varying lengths for active trip planning. The Steinkammergrabrunde near Fritzlar-Lohne is an easy 4.90-kilometer circular trail designated Nature Park Circular Route L1. The Schwalm Cycle Path is around 100 kilometers long and follows the river to its confluence with the Eder shortly before Felsberg. For most of its length, it runs on paved or surfaced paths through river landscapes with meadows, fields, villages and half-timbered towns. Felsberg-Gensungen and Schwalmstadt-Treysa are listed as rail access points for the cycle path; check current timetables when planning. Route conditions may change.

Discover more destinations: Asterode, Schwarzenborn, Homberg/Efze, Oberaula, Guxhagen, Schrecksbach, Ottrau, Fritzlar.

For the wider travel overview: Schwalm-Eder District.