Bernshausen: Village History and Volcano Cycle Path

Bernshausen can be explored through two distinct themes: its historic settlement center and the Volcano/Railway Cycle Path, which runs through the village. The village center documents the development of the village and its farms over four centuries; it is complemented by a school dating from 1899/1900, a rye mill that is more than 400 years old, and traces of railway history. This offers a clear way to plan your trip around local history and the cycle route.

Village Center and Local History

The village center lies in the southeast of Bernshausen, with Kirchstraße as its main thoroughfare. The historic center documents the development of the village and its farms over four centuries. The school at Schulhausstraße 13 dates from 1899/1900 and adds a specific construction date to this broad historical perspective. The settlement center’s long development and the precisely dated school offer two different ways to understand the history of the village.

Mill, Bread Oven and Refuge Fort

The Hehr Mill in Bernshausen has been in operation for more than 400 years and is described as the largest and probably most modern rye mill in Hesse. The term “rye mill” makes its connection to milling history explicit. The community center is another named historical landmark: its ground floor contains a public bread oven. The remains of an old refuge fort are located on Sengersberg near Bernshausen. The mill, bread oven and fortifications thus represent different historical traces in the village.

Volcano/Railway Cycle Path and Railway Bridges

The Volcano/Railway Cycle Path runs through Bernshausen. An old railway bridge stands on the Volcano Cycle Path and is now used only by cyclists. The railway bridges near Bernshausen are designated as cultural monuments for historical and technical reasons; a paved road now runs across them. The bridges thus bring railway history together with their present-day use by cyclists. If you would like to explore Bernshausen by bike, the cycle path that runs through the village is a distinct point of reference alongside the historic village center.

Schlitz

The Volcano Cycle Path is 93 kilometers long and begins or ends in Schlitz; it follows the route of a former railway line. Schlitz is also home to the Hinterturm, a 36-meter-high keep dating from the 14th century. From there, you can enjoy views across the Schlitzerland region. Hallenburg Castle was once the castle and residence of the Counts of Schlitz. Between 1706 and 1712, it was remodeled according to plans by the French architect Louis Remy de la Fosse to create a new late Baroque castle with a mansard roof.

A seasonal highlight in Schlitz is the Schlitz Candle: since 1991, red fabric panels have transformed the keep of Hinterburg Castle into a 42-meter-high candle on every Advent weekend. It shines above the historic market square and is considered the largest Christmas candle in the world.

If you are looking for a hotel in Bernshausen, you can first decide whether the historic village center or the cycle route is more relevant to your trip.

For the broader travel overview: Schlitz.